Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, May 31: As throat swab samples collected in primary health centres based in rural areas take time to reach the district hospital, the test report takes two days to be ready.
Normally, when collecting samples, the staff say that the result will be ready in 24 hours if the result is positive, and three days if negative. People who do not receive reports on their mobile phones in a day conclude that they are negative and visit many places. This, however, spreads infection in rural areas in many cases.
In one such incident, the throat swab had been collected in a primary health centre located 13 km away from the district hospital at 10.20 am on May 26. It reached the lab on May 27. At 4.20 pm on May 27, the swab was tested and it gave a positive report. But the message was received on the person's mobile at 2 pm on May 28. It took about 52 hours from the time the sample was collected. Many such cases have been reported.
The swab samples collected in rural areas are brought to primary health centres from where the samples are sent to taluk health offices in the afternoon and again in the evening. These swabs are given new numbers, a list is prepared, and sent to the surveillance office. There, lab number is allotted and all the swabs are put together and given to the lab. This information was given by the district health officials.
The only government testing lab in the district is in the district hospital where about 2,800 to 3,000 samples are tested and uploading is done in 24 hours. But receipt of the samples from the centres takes time and therefore, the report gets delayed, say district hospital sources.
Deputy commissioner of the district, G Jagadeesha, says that the report should be provided within 24 hours of collection of samples. He said instruction to carry the swabs thrice every day had been issued and if there is a problem with vehicles, the same will be arranged. He said that samples of a particular day should reach the labs the same day at any cost.