J&K gets first genome sequencing lab functional at SKIMS Soura

Srinagar, Apr 5: The first genome-sequencing facility in Jammu and Kashmir has been commissioned at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, and testing has begun in an effort to identify Covid-19 variations early, authorities said on Wednesday.
The H&ME Department’s administrative secretary, Bhupinder Kumar, said that the genome sequencing facility, the first of its type in J&K, has been put into operation.
“The lab was made functional a few days back and it is working fine. It will take care of the requirement of genome sequencing for now in the whole UT,” he said.
With the commissioning of the lab, the samples from Kashmir as well as from Jammu would now be tested at SKIMS for the early identification of Covid-19 variants.
Head Department of Microbiology SKIMS Soura, Dr Bashir Fomda said they have received the first batch for testing. “In one batch, we would be able to test some 96 samples in 48 hours in a batch which will take us two days for testing and few days for analysis.We will also get samples from Jammu division as well,” he said.
The Administrative Secretary also said that the genome sequencing labs at Government Medical College Srinagar and Jammu would also be made functional in future.
“We have installed two high-end genome-sequencing labs one each in GMC Srinagar and GMC Jammu however there are some minor works pending which are likely to be completed soon,” he told Rising Kashmir.
Once the GMC Srinagar lab is functional, the department will try to make this lab a part of the larger network of 50 labs in India that are authorised to conduct genome sequencing.
Kumar also said that the genome-sequencing lab at GMC Jammu will be commissioned soon after the minor works are done. “As per guidelines of the Union Govt., we will do genome sequencing of each positive case to know the exact variant of Covid-19,” he said.
The setting up of two genome-sequencing labs was proposed in August 2021 when Covid-19 was on peak and samples were sent for testing outside Jammu and Kashmir.
The Administrative Secretary said they have discussed the strategies to tackle the situation and emphasized the need of ensuring a strict vigil over the situation besides keeping ready the infrastructure and requisite supplies to tackle any such cases.
The genome-sequencing is the process of determining the entirety of the DNA sequence of an organism’s genome at a single time. The labs are aimed at early identification of new coronavirus variants and the labs would be a key component in the fight against Covid-19.