BMC okays testing lab in Kasturba Hospital

Faced with a bottleneck for examination of throat samples being sent for testing to confirm swine flu infection, the civic standing committee on Wednesday approved a proposal to upgrade an existing laboratory at the Kasturba hospital. Once upgraded, the laboratory will be able to test samples, civic officials said.

The laboratory already has a real time PCR machine being used in the Haffkine Institute, the only laboratory currently testing samples in the city.

A proposals to permit private laboratories to carry out the tests is also being considered.

The standing committee also approved a proposal to purchase additional kits to transport samples to the laboratories.

No stock of anti-virals to treat children and pregnant women: The public health department has no stock of the syrup form of Tamiflu, advisable for children under 12 years of age and soft Tamilfu dosages, recommended for pregnant women suffering from the virus infection.

Additional municipal commissioner Manisha Patankar Mhaiskar said the stocks will be procured from the union health ministry within 24 hours.