Deputy commissioner inaugurates covid-19 testing facility at PIMS, machine can test 96 samples at a time

Jalandhar : Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori on Friday inaugurated the Covid-19 testing facility at Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) to facilitate people with the latest RT-PCR testing facility at the local level.The deputy commissioner said that the ongoing battle against the pandemic could only be won through collective efforts and emphasized that the safety precautions like washing hands, maintaining social distancing, and wearing a mask could play a pivotal role in keeping the virus spread at bay. Thori reiterated his commitment to providing the best of the healthcare services to citizens in these trying times and mentioned that the elaborated arrangements were made during the lockdown in the district to assist people in the best possible way.Give more details about the new testing facility, the Resident Director of PIMS Amit Singh said that a fee of Rs. 1600 fixed by the government would be charged for the testing, and the sample collection facility at home to be started soon. He further added that the tasting machine in PIMS could test as many as 96 samples at a time, which would add to its testing capacity. He said that the RT-PCR test is one of the most-effective and accurate methods to detect virus transmission in a person just within 4 to 6 hours of harboring the virus. On the occasion Vice Principal Dr. Rajiv Arora, Head of the Microbiology department Dr. Kailash Chand, and others were present.