Govt may allow private labs to conduct genome sequencing

The government may allow private laboratories to conduct whole genome sequencing of Sars-Cov-2 positive samples to scale up testing facilities in the wake of the threat posed by the heavily mutated Omicron variant.

The government may allow private laboratories to conduct whole genome sequencing of Sars-Cov-2 positive samples to scale up testing facilities in the wake of the threat posed by the heavily mutated Omicron variant, people familiar with the development said.

Samples being examined at the Genome Sequencing Lab and RT-PCR laboratory at Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services campus amid fear of the Omicron variant, in Chennai on November 29. (ANI)

“There have been talks around it, but no final decision has been made yet on the issue,” a central government official said on condition of anonymity.

There was mention of this in Parliament discussions in the ongoing winter session.

“There are 36 laboratories for genome sequencing in the country currently. These laboratories can do whole genome sequencing of up to 30,000 positive samples, and the capacity is being increased with the help of private laboratories,” health minister Mansukh Mandaviya said last week while speaking on the Omicron variant during question hour on Friday.

It would make sense to include private labs if the Centre intends to scale up genetic sequencing to detect mutations early, industry insiders said.

“India is performing probably the lowest amount of genetic testing anywhere in the world. We are probably not doing (genome sequencing) of even 1% of the positive samples, whereas there are countries like Israel that are performing genome sequencing of all positive samples. Even the US is doing it for 20-30% of its positive samples. The next thing is to expand our genetic testing like we did for molecular testing,” said GSK Velu, chairman and managing director of Neuberg Diagnostics, one of the country’s largest diagnostic laboratories.