Can't determine presence of new variant if reports come late: Experts
Jammu Tawi, Dec 11 (KNO) : In absence of any genome sequencing lab in Jammu and Kashmir, the samples sent of Covid positive patients for test takes at least two weeks and sometimes even three four weeks.
Top health officials who spoke to the news agency—KNO on condition of anonymity said that reports of samples sent for genome sequencing are taking at least two weeks time.
A top health official from Jammu said that he can't exactly tell how many reports of samples sent for genome sequencing are being received but there are just few such labs in the country where genome sequencing is being done.
“So, it depends upon the labs, if pressure will be less reports come in around two weeks otherwise it takes around one month,” an official said.
Another top official from the Kashmir division said that reports of samples sent for genome sequencing are now coming quickly as compared to the peak season of the second week.
“It takes around two weeks at least, which is less time,” he said.
Meanwhile many health experts have also expressed their concern over the delay in results of samples sent for genome sequencing.
“If a person will come positive today through RT-PCR and his sample will be sent for genome sequencing on the same day, the report will come at least after 15 days. There is all likelihood that the patient would have recovered till we come to know whether he/she was positive for the new variant or negative,” experts said.
“If they will get information that the patient was omicron positive after the patient had recovered already. How we will get the information about the behaviour of the new variant,” they said.
At least four foreign travellers in J&K whose samples have been sent for genome sequencing but their reports are yet to come.
Three from Jammu are under observation in DRDO hospital Jammu while one from Kashmir who has travel history of Saudi Arabia has been discharged from DRDO hospital Srinagar and sent for 10 day home quarantine—(KNO)
