Karnataka gears up to prevent delay in COVID-19 testing

Bengaluru, July 25: The district-level officials have been asked not to delay sample results beyond 72 hours of collection.

This was conveyed during the web meeting with district CEOs and District Surveillance Officers organized by State Chief Secretary Vijay Bhaskar to discuss the reduction of delay of testing samples for COVID-19 across the state. 

The districts were instructed not to delay sample results beyond 72 hours of collection. 

There should be a maximum of 24 hours between sample collection and transportation to labs, a maximum of 24 hours between the arrival of the samples at the lab and data entry, and a maximum of 24 hours between data entry and getting test results. 

Software is developed to monitor the process from sample collection, transportation, and movement between labs and districts.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Shalini Rajneesh, Additional Chief Secretary, Planning, Statistics, and Program Implementation, Pankaj Kumar Pandey, Commissioner, Department of Health and Family Welfare, and Dr. Arundhathi Chandrasekhar, MD NHM.

Dr. Arundathi Chandrasekhar presented the status of laboratory testing in different districts, along with progress and delays.