Thiruvananthapuram GMC launches Mobile Outbreak Investigation Unit
Thiruvananthapuram: The Institute of Advanced Virology (IAV) has launched an innovative Mobile Outbreak Investigation Unit at the Trivandrum Government Medical College (GMC) campus.
This outbreak investigation unit has the required facilities for the collection of samples from disease outbreak-reported areas, equipment such as bio-safety cabinets and centrifuges for processing the samples under strict bio-safety conditions at the site itself, ice-lined refrigerators and liquid nitrogen containers to transfer the processed samples under cold-chain conditions to the testing facility at IAV for detailed diagnosis.
At present, viral disease-related samples from the Medical College Hospital, RCC, SAT and Sree Chitra Hospital are brought to the Institute of Advanced Virology for diagnosis by the patients themselves.
Also Read:Vice President Dhankhar inaugurates mobile medical clinics for Srinagar, Kalaburagi
A delay in sample collection and delivery to the lab often leads to sample degradation. This may result in an incorrect diagnosis during testing.
The samples collected at the Mobile Outbreak Investigation Unit are stored under proper cold chain conditions, which prevent sample degradation and enable accurate testing and diagnosis.
Samples are accepted on all working days from 10 am to 12 pm at the Medical College campus. The facility can be used only on the basis of recommendations from treating doctors, reports UNI.
The unit also has the facility to carry out rapid diagnosis at the site to provide preliminary results. This unit is manned by trained scientists and technicians from IAV.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that in response to a recent surge in COVID-19 cases, private hospitals across Kerala have reactivated safety protocols, setting up dedicated wards and ICUs for COVID patients and implementing screening measures for symptomatic individuals, particularly those at high risk.
Since May 6, the state has recorded approximately 1,400 new COVID-19 cases and seven deaths, with the latest being a 24-year-old woman with liver disease. On Sunday alone, Kerala reported 64 new infections and one death.
Also Read:Mobile Apps may enhance Medication Adherence in CKD Patients, reveals research
