Laboratory preparedness for SARS-CoV-2 testing in India: Harnessing a network of Virus Research & Diagnostic Laboratories.
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Betacoronavirus
COVID-19
COVID-19 Testing
COVID-19 Vaccines
Child
Child, Preschool
Clinical Laboratory Techniques
/ standards
Coronavirus Infections
/ diagnosis
Female
Humans
India
Infant
Male
Mass Screening
/ organization & administration
Middle Aged
Pandemics
Pneumonia, Viral
/ diagnosis
Quality Control
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
/ standards
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
/ standards
SARS-CoV-2
Specimen Handling
Young Adult
Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory
diagnosis
preparedness
quality control
quarantine
severe acute respiratory syndrome-CoV-2
COVID-19
Journal
The Indian journal of medical research
ISSN: 0971-5916
Titre abrégé: Indian J Med Res
Pays: India
ID NLM: 0374701
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Historique:
pubmed:
4
4
2020
medline:
7
5
2020
entrez:
4
4
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
An outbreak of respiratory illness of unknown aetiology was reported from Hubei province of Wuhan, People's Republic of China, in December 2019. The outbreak was attributed to a novel coronavirus (CoV), named as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2 and the disease as COVID-19. Within one month, cases were reported from 25 countries. In view of the novel viral strain with reported high morbidity, establishing early countrywide diagnosis to detect imported cases became critical. Here we describe the role of a countrywide network of VRDLs in early diagnosis of COVID-19. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, established screening as well as confirmatory assays for SARS-CoV-2. A total of 13 VRDLs were provided with the E gene screening real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) assay. VRDLs were selected on the basis of their presence near an international airport/seaport and their past performance. The case definition for testing included all individuals with travel history to Wuhan and symptomatic individuals with travel history to other parts of China. This was later expanded to include symptomatic individuals returning from Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand and South Korea. Within a week of standardization of the test at NIV, all VRDLs could initiate testing for SARS-CoV-2. Till February 29, 2020, a total of 2,913 samples were tested. This included both 654 individuals quarantined in the two camps and others fitting within the case definition. The quarantined individuals were tested twice - at days 0 and 14. All tested negative on both occasions. Only three individuals belonging to different districts in Kerala were found to be positive. Sudden emergence of SARS-CoV-2 and its potential to cause a pandemic posed an unsurmountable challenge to the public health system of India. However, concerted efforts of various arms of the Government of India resulted in a well-coordinated action at each level. India has successfully demonstrated its ability to establish quick diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 at NIV, Pune, and the testing VRDLs.
Sections du résumé
Background & objectives
An outbreak of respiratory illness of unknown aetiology was reported from Hubei province of Wuhan, People's Republic of China, in December 2019. The outbreak was attributed to a novel coronavirus (CoV), named as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2 and the disease as COVID-19. Within one month, cases were reported from 25 countries. In view of the novel viral strain with reported high morbidity, establishing early countrywide diagnosis to detect imported cases became critical. Here we describe the role of a countrywide network of VRDLs in early diagnosis of COVID-19.
Methods
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, established screening as well as confirmatory assays for SARS-CoV-2. A total of 13 VRDLs were provided with the E gene screening real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) assay. VRDLs were selected on the basis of their presence near an international airport/seaport and their past performance. The case definition for testing included all individuals with travel history to Wuhan and symptomatic individuals with travel history to other parts of China. This was later expanded to include symptomatic individuals returning from Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand and South Korea.
Results
Within a week of standardization of the test at NIV, all VRDLs could initiate testing for SARS-CoV-2. Till February 29, 2020, a total of 2,913 samples were tested. This included both 654 individuals quarantined in the two camps and others fitting within the case definition. The quarantined individuals were tested twice - at days 0 and 14. All tested negative on both occasions. Only three individuals belonging to different districts in Kerala were found to be positive.
Interpretation & conclusions
Sudden emergence of SARS-CoV-2 and its potential to cause a pandemic posed an unsurmountable challenge to the public health system of India. However, concerted efforts of various arms of the Government of India resulted in a well-coordinated action at each level. India has successfully demonstrated its ability to establish quick diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 at NIV, Pune, and the testing VRDLs.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32242875
pii: 281754
doi: 10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_594_20
pmc: PMC7258754
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
216-225Commentaires et corrections
Type : CommentIn
Type : CommentIn
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
None
Références
Lancet. 2020 Feb 15;395(10223):514-523
pubmed: 31986261
Clin Microbiol Rev. 2015 Apr;28(2):465-522
pubmed: 25810418
Clin Microbiol Rev. 2007 Oct;20(4):660-94
pubmed: 17934078
Emerg Microbes Infect. 2020 Dec;9(1):221-236
pubmed: 31987001
Euro Surveill. 2020 Jan;25(3):
pubmed: 31992387