H1N1 swine testing facility opened in SMS Medical College, Jaipur

A new centre to test H1N1 infection for swine flu detection has been opened in SMS Medical College, Jaipur.

SMS Medical College, Jaipur is the first of such H1N1 influenza testing laboratory in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan.

SMS Medical College, established in the year 1947, is one of the oldest and one of the premier medical colleges in the state of Rajasthan.

The new lab at SMS Medical College, Jaipur is equipped to deliver the reports within 24 hours of time, college authorities said.

Patients will be charged rupees 3,000 for one H1N1 test to confirm swine flu infection in normal cases.

However, the lab at SMS Medical College will charge no fee for widows, orphans, handicapped, persons above 70 years, and patients belonging to below poverty line (BPL).

SMS Medical College lab, which is set up at cost of rupees 84 lakh, is first of its kind in north India, with the highest level of security and safety standards, Dr Ashok Panagaria, Principal of SMS Medical College stated.

The state of Rajasthan is considered as high risk zone for H1N1 virus causing swine flu, he said.

Currently, India has accredited laboratories at major cities including New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore to detect H1N1 infection. There are private swine flu testing labs in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore apart from several other cities.

Recently, the government has also allowed some hospitals and laboratories in the private sector as well to conduct detection test for the H1N1 infection, considering the rising number of cases in these cities.

Religare, Dr Lal’s pathology, Auroprobe and Dang’s are the four new laboratories in the private sector selected by the government to conduct RNA testing in New Delhi for the swine flu causing H1N1 influenza A virus.

These private labs in New Delhi have been inspected as additional testing centres by a six-member NICD team to see the facilities and their preparedness to follow the real-time PCR system and the required bio safety level two. The labs should also have a separate collection area. After these checks, fresh samples sent to these labs.

Mumbai has over dozen H1N1 swine flu testing centres. The Mumbai municipal corporation has recently decided to open six more swine flu screening centres in Mumbai.

Of the six new h1N1 testing centres opened, three would be in western and three in eastern suburbs. The hospitals are — Cooper hospital in Vile Parle, V N Desai in Santacruz, S K Patil in Malad, Bhabha hospital in Kurla, Kannamwar Nagar in Vikhroli and Saptapadi in Govandi.

Samples collected will be sent to Haffkine Institute at Parel and National Institute of Virology, Pune.

The civic administration now sends 400 samples daily to NIV from the earlier 300 and 120 samples are sent to Haffkine daily for testing, according to Manisha Mhaiskar, Additional Municipal Commissioner,the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

BMC is also planning to open up a new laboratory in the city for testing H1N1 virus with an estimated cost of Rs 57 to 75 lakh. A proposal to this effect is expected to be tabled before the Standing Committee for approval soon.

Karnataka has two laboratories to test H1N1 virus samples in the state, one in Bangalore and one in Manipal.

National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIHMANS), Bangalore conducts 100 tests a day. The new equipment would help to conduct 300 tests.

NIMHANS is currently in the process of purchase another equipment costing around Rs 40 lakh for conducting tests for H1N1 swine flu patients. The new equipment would help enhance NIMHANS H1N1 testing capability to 300 tests a day.

While Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Chest Diseases said the hospital had received nearly 6000 suspected cases so far. Most of the deaths occurred in the age group of 20 to 30 years and majority of them were women.

Karnataka government also plans to set up a laboratory at KLE Society Hospital in Belgaum for providing treatment to  patients.

Private hospitals in Bangalore charge between Rs. 1,200 and Rs. 1,500 per patient for screening.Government would reimburse the hospitals for the cost treatment, sources said.

Several hospitals in Karnataka have decided to set up laboratories for conducting H1N1 tests, as this south Indian state is one of hot spots of swine flu infection and related deaths.

Contact Info:

SMS Medical College

JLN Marg
Jaipur – 302004
Phones : 0141-2619020, 2518380
Fax : 0141-2619171
EMail : principalsmsmc@yahoo.co.in

Contact person:    Dr. Narpat Singh Sekhawat
(Medical Suptd.)

Phones (Offi) : 0141-2565647
Phones (Resi) : 0141-2220088, 9414057171
Fax : 0141-2569885