The State’s first Bio Safety Level 3 (BSL 3) laboratory was inaugurated at the Naga Hospital Authority Kohima on May 21. (Photo Courtesy: DIPR)
- Testing to likely start from May 22
- 90 tests can be conducted per day
Our Correspondent
Kohima | May 21
Nagaland’s first Bio Safety Level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory was inaugurated at the Naga Hospital Authority Kohima on May 21.
Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio formally inaugurated the lab and said that the collective efforts of the departments, the civil societies, various agencies, the churches etc have put Nagaland in a better position to fight the COVID-19 virus.
The CM meanwhile urged the people not to socially stigmatize the returnees but to support them and continue cooperating with the government.
Talking to media persons, research scientist Dr. Joshua Keppen said that 90 tests can be conducted per day in the BSL Lab at Kohima. Tests are likely to start from May 22.
Health & Family Welfare Secretary, Kesonyu Yhome said that as of April 1, altogether 126 laboratories have been approved for COVID-19 testing across India. Sensing the urgency, Yhome said the state government had approved to set up a BSL 3 lab in Kohima and a BSL 2 lab in Dimapur.
The features of BSL-3 laboratory includes a Bio Safety Cabinet, unidirectional air flow using room pressure gradients of negative pressure, exhaust air being High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtered and procedures for proper disposal of lab waste.
Yhome said that while this facility has been set up immediately for the purpose of COVID-19 testing, the specialized Bio Safety Lab has huge prospects.
Among these is the ability to provide rapid response to unidentified new infections, characterisation of disease conditions, better facilities for cancer and genetic research, collaboration with several other research centers in the country, and will encourage people to enter into molecular biology thereby creating a pool of qualified human resource.
Nagaland Health Minister, S Pangnyu Phom meanwhile stated that typically the setting up of such a lab requires about 6 months or more “for a place like Nagaland.” “We have made it possible in about a month, with world-class instruments and containment building,” he said. “We now have the best facility in the whole of NE,” the Minister claimed.
The instruments for the lab were imported from USA, Germany and Singapore. Expert guidance in the development and quality check of the lab was needed; wherein, the help of the Nagaland Institute of Science & Technology (NIST) was sought.
The Health Minister expressed gratitude to the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology; the Government of India, the Indian Air Force, the Chief Minister and the Nagaland Governor for their efforts towards setting up the lab.
Meanwhile the Health Minister along with Padma Shree, Neidonuo Angami also inaugurated the Bio Safety Sample Collection Booth developed by the NIST.
