Health

COVID-19: Bihar’s only genome-sequencing facility stops in only a month

Just 67 omicron cases have been detected in Bihar till date, according to official data

 
By Mohd Imran Khan
Published: Monday 31 January 2022
A genome sequencing facility was set up in December 2021 at the molecular biology laboratory in IGIMS, Patna and became functional in the first week of January 2022. Photo: iStock

Bihar’s first and only genome-sequencing facility at Patna-based Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS), has become non-operational since last week due to a lack of reagents.

No samples are being tested in the state at the moment to ascertain the omicron variant of COVID-19. This highlights the seriousness of the state government during ongoing third wave of COVID-19.

The genome-sequencing facility was set up in December 2021 at the molecular biology laboratory in IGIMS and became functional in the first week of January 2022.

The set up was approved by the Indian SARS CoV-2 Consortium of Genomic Sequencing (INSACOG) for whole genome-sequencing to ascertain omicron.

But within a month, the genome-sequencing facility started to face a short supply of reagents.

A senior health official at IGIMS said genome-sequencing had been stalled for now as reagents were not available.

“Just two rounds of genome-sequencing tests have been conducted at the laboratory till now. This reflects the slow process to ascertain omicron in the state,” the official said.

Just 67 omicron cases have been detected in the state till date, according to official data. Some 28 of 32 samples tested in the first round of genome- sequencing tests January 9, gave positive results for omicron.

A total 40 of 40 samples tested positive for omicron in the second round. These included Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Namrata Kumari from IGIMS’ molecular biology laboratory said genome-sequencing tests were not taking place as reagents were not available.

“We have requested the concerned authorities to provide reagents as soon as possible for genome-sequencing test to detect omicron,” she said.

Another senior official of IGIMS said the state health department had already placed an order for the supply of reagents from the United States. “We expect to receive reagents this week itself and will start genome-sequencing tests,” the official said.

However, IGIMS Superintendent Manish Mandal denied that genome-sequencing tests had been stalled. He said he had no information on the issue. “I will inquire into it and let you know by January 31 evening,” he said

Mandal said genome-sequencing tests were not like any other test as they required specific kits and were very costly.

Leading epidemiologists in Bihar claimed in mid-January that that omicron had reached the community-spread stage in the state. It was a different matter that omicron had not been detected.

This is ironical given that Pratyaya Amrit, Bihar’s additional chief secretary, health, revealed two weeks back that omicron had emerged as the predominant strain of COVID-19 in Bihar.

According to the health department’s official Twitter handle, Bihar reported 1,238 new COVID-19 cases and three deaths January 30. It had conducted 150,058 tests January 30.

The number of active cases in the state decreased to 6,557 and the recovery rate increased to 97.72 per cent. The infection rate decreased to 0.85 per cent.

The Bihar government is planning to reopen schools and relax COVID restrictions from February 7, with COVID-19 cases declining in the state.

Subscribe to Daily Newsletter :

Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.