Bengaluru: A first, course on Covid diagnosis kicks off

BENGALURU: In a first, the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) in Bengaluru, has established a state-of-the-art Covid diagnostic training centre to help build capacity for the national fight against Covid -19 pandemic.


An autonomous research institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), JNCASR says that molecular diagnostic techniques, such as the real-time PCR, play a crucial role in the diagnosis and tracking of epidemics, including Covid-19.

“Unfortunately, India lacks personnel skilled in and adept at performing a real-time PCR in clinical diagnostics. Appreciating the crucial and unmet needs of the nation, JNCASR has embarked upon a campaign by establishing a state-of-the-art diagnostic training facility to train personnel in a real-time PCR for Covid-19,” DST said in a statement.

The primary objective of the programme is to train multiple batches of trainees — six to ten per batch — in real-time PCR. The programme envisages training people in multiple and sequential batches over the coming months through a crash course spanning over a week, and the first batch has undergone training from June 16 to June 22.

The comprehensive crash-course spanning over a week comprises both classroom lectures and laboratory experiments. The course is designed to impart theoretical knowledge as well as hands-on training. The practical laboratory sessions have taught the participants the processing of infectious samples, nucleic acid extraction and preservation, real-time PCR and other molecular techniques, data analysis, and, importantly, standard operating protocols (SOP) of a clinical diagnostic facility.

Only simulated samples, not containing an infectious virus, have been used for training. Following the course, the trainees will be well-positioned to join a clinical diagnostic facility and handle samples in a clinical setup and perform a real-time PCR for not only Covid but any infectious organism.

“Scientific robust training on handling and processing of infectious samples, use of real-time PCR and other molecular diagnostics, data analysis, and the standard operating protocols (SOP) of a clinical diagnostic facility are not only extraordinarily important in the time of Covid-19, but will continue to ensure the preparedness of the nation in the future to speedily address similar threats,” Prof Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, DST said.

The programme is open for young candidates with a graduate or post-graduate degree in medical laboratory testing (MLT degree) offered by any medical institute in India. Personnel currently engaged in clinical service, and diagnostic laboratories are especially encouraged to apply for the training.