Coronavirus | Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 hit by shortage in samples from patients

CCMB and Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD) are among the 10 labs chosen by the Centre for genome sequencing of the COVID-19 samples

It has been three months since the formation of the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG). It is comprised of top 10 regional labs of CSIR, DBT and ICMR and is involved in genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2. However, they are yet to get sufficient number of samples from the COVID-19 positive patients from both government and private healthcare centres. “In the last few months the funds have come by and necessary reagent purchases have been made and coordination among the labs too is improving. However, we are not getting the required number of samples. It is about 50-60 samples a day when we can do genome sequence up to 1,000 samples. Efforts are being made for samples to be received by the sequencing labs to attain the best possible outcome,” discloses CSIR-Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CCMB) Director Rakesh Mishra on Tuesday.