Nagaland: BSL-2 lab in Dimapur to be operational soon

Nagaland minister for health and family welfare S. Pangyu Phom on Monday said the BSL-2 laboratory at Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research (CIHSR), Dimapur, will be inaugurated within a few days.

Phom said this while making final inspection of the infrastructure at the laboratory. He took a round of the processing room, the RNA extraction room, sample storage room kept at minus 80 degree Celsius and the polymerase chain reaction facility during the visit.

He was accompanied by adviser to information and public relations, state council of education, research and training and village guards Toshi Wungtung.

CIHSR director Dr Sedevi Angami briefed the minister on how the laboratory would function.

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Angami said the laboratory would be operational once the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is satisfied with the testing of samples done in it. He said the results of the tests done would be uploaded by tomorrow.

"If the ICMR is satisfied and happy, they will give us the go ahead and the lab would be operational," he said.

Highlighting the multi utility of such laboratories, Angami said the facility at the BSL-2 laboratory can be used for testing of blood samples for TB, HIV, hepatitis etc., which will immensely strengthen the medical infrastructure.

Besides, he said many Naga medical scholars who are working and doing research in the mainland will get an opportunity to come and work in Nagaland with the installation of such facilities. "Already, two PhD Naga scholars have applied and one has already joined," he added.

Dr Nito Yepthomi, who will be heading the BSL-2 laboratory, said 12 designated staff headed by him would be running the laboratory.  He said two pathologists and one scientist will be working in shifts.

He added that the 12 staff would be able to test around 150 to 200 samples per day. Yepthomi, however, said more manpower would be required if the sample goes beyond 200 per day.

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