SRINAGAR: The Centres for Disease Control (CDC), New Delhi on Monday gave the nod for starting viral load testing for the better management of HIV and Hepatitis B, C patients at Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu,.
The SCD gave the permission after inspecting the COBAS 6800 Lab installed in GMC.
A GMC spokesman said that for solid organ transplant programMEs also, viral load testing on various viruses is a must for better patient care
The COBAS 6800 Lab of the Department of Microbiology was inspected by Dr Manoj Kumar (Senior Manager LaQSH) in collaboration with CDC New Delhi as lead assessor.
“Dr Kumar meticulously assessed the laboratory services and manpower and declared the laboratory suitable for initiation of viral load testing with an assessment score of 93.5 percent,” he added.
The spokesman said that this would be followed by training of staff and the start of viral load testing in GMC Jammu itself.
With the establishment of facility, various patients under treatment for Hepatitis under National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NVHCP) and HIV under National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) will benefit.
Notably, COBAS Lab has been established under the VRDL program as a State of Art Lab. and is playing a lead role in COVID RT-PCR testing in Jammu Province.
All over India, 64 Abbott platforms and 13 COBAS 6800 have been allocated for viral load testing.
Earlier the sample of HIV viral load used to be sent to Chandigarh by NACO but with the establishment of this platform for viral load all further tests will be done in Jammu including viral load testing in Hepatitis B and C patients and transplant associated infections in immunosuppressed patients. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: Secretary, Health & Medical Education Department, Bhupinder Kumar, today convened a meeting to review current COVID-19 situation besides assessing preparedness for tackling the pandemic with all the stakeholders of Health & Medical Department.

Mission Director NHM J&K, Ayushi Sudan, gave a brief presentation regarding status of COVID-19 in J&K besides presenting a snapshot of COVID cases, testing and vaccination scenario in the Union Territory.

It was informed that country wide there is an upward trend in daily positive cases being reported including the Union territory of J&K where the active positive cases have gone up in last 2 weeks.

Secretary directed all the officers to remain vigilant and prepare themselves for the emerging situation. He asked all the Chief Medical Officers and Principals of GMCs for operationalization of separate flu clinics in health facilities and focus on increased testing of all Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) and Influenza like Illness (ILI) cases with instructions to send all the RTPCR Positive test samples for Genome Sequencing to SKIMS, Soura. He further directed Principal GMC Jammu and Srinagar to ensure early operationalization of Genome Sequencing Laboratories in both the medical colleges.

Secretary impressed upon all the administrators to undertake Mock Drill across all Health Facilities uniformly across the UT on 10th April 2023 to ensure Operational Readiness for management of COVID  in all identified dedicated facilities including GMCs, DHs and CHCs with specific focus on Oxygen Plants (LMO/ PSA/ Manifold), Ventilators, Logistics and Human Resources.

Further, directions were issued to all the Principals of Government Medical Colleges and Director Health Services Jammu and Kashmir to ensure availability of Testing Kits, Drugs and Supplies in coordination with J&K Medical Supplies Corporation Limited. Further Directorate of Family Welfare was asked to ensure availability of COVID vaccination as per the requirements of districts to vaccinate the eligible population in all districts.

In order to limit transmission of disease, he exhorted upon the need for enforcement of COVID Appropriate Behavior including wearing of masks in hospital premises by patients, health professionals and health workers. He also exhorted upon the comorbid and elderly persons to avoid overcrowded and poorly ventilated places.

The meeting was attended by Director, SKIMS, Soura, Srinagar, all Principals of Government Medical Colleges along with HoDs of Medicine, Microbiology, and PSM, SKIMS Bemina, Srinagar, Director General Family Welfare, MCH and Immunization, Director Health Services Kashmir and Jammu, Director (Coordination) New GMCs, Managing Director J&K Medical Supplies Corporation, Joint Director Planning, H&ME, State Surveillance Officers Kashmir and Jammu, and Chief Medical Officers.(GNS)