The UT Ladakh administration is going to set up soon a BSL -2 laboratory in Chushot.  This will be the first Molecular Diagnostic laboratory in Ladakh.

Since Ladakh doesn’t have a BSL-2 laboratory, the Covid-19 case samples had to be sent to Delhi which takes two-three days to receive the report.  As on April 29, 1949 samples have been sent to Delhi.

Besides COVID-19 testing, the new lab will work for a number of other important tests in Leh itself. In future, the lab equipment will be incorporated with the upcoming Medial College at Leh. 

A team from SNM Hospital, Leh, including two doctors and four laboratory technicians, has been sent to PGI, Chandigarh, for a week’s training.  

Dr. Sonam Angmo, Head of the Pathologist Deptt, says, "We received one-week training at PGI, Chandigarh, in the Virology Department. The experience and exposure were really good. We were provided hands-on training. There is a lot of difference between practical and theory".
 
Besides, Dr Phuntsog Angchuk, Director, Health, UT, Ladakh, says that Prof Kunzang Chorol, from AIIMS, will also come here and train them in the beginning.

“Basically, we need microbiologist but we don’t have it here in Ladakh, so we have sent two pathologist and four lab technician for training from PGI, Changidarh. The fully-equipped BSL-2 lab is compliant with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) standards.

“Initially, we will conduct the tests here and send the same samples to Delhi as well to compare the results. This is the normal practice for any new laboratory”, says Dr Angchuk. 

The importance of a lab in Ladakh: 
 
Earlier, the samples had to be sent to Delhi by flight, leading to delay and heavy expenditure, but now such tests can be conducted in Ladakh itself, after some time. 
 
Rigzin Samphel, Commissioner/ Secretary, Health, in an interview with Reach Ladakh, said, “It is very important to have such laboratory here in Ladakh. We have already taken up the issue with the government. As of now, we are sending the samples to Delhi and we receive the reports within one or two days.”
 
Echoing the same views, Dr Angchuk says that “this is a milestone and this is very important to have a laboratory in Ladakh because no one is able to say anything about this virus. For how long will it stay and whether it will be in wave 1 or wave 2. Right now, the virus is under control in Ladakh.”

Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, MP, also believes that it is very important to have a laboratory here in Ladakh. “I had committed to UT Ladakh to get the laboratory. This was one of the top priorities of UT Ladakh.”  
 
Talking about the expenditure, he says, “The cost on us UT Ladakh Administration is almost nil because half of the equipment were brought from ICMR and the other half were donated by Pernod Ricad Company through their CSR funding. We have mobilized the resources, otherwise it would have cost around 50 lacs to 60 lacs to set up the laboratory.” 

Talking about the certificate of ICMR, he says, “When the lab is ready, the UT Ladakh administration will send the papers and I will intervene in getting the certificate from ICMR.”

Scope of the laboratory: 

Once the lab gets functional, it will be able to undertake many other tests like H1NI, influenza, needles, swine flu etc. Virology and pathological test also can be done. 
 
Dr Sonam Angmo says, “Right now, we have Coronavirus cases and it is confirmatory for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Besides, that we can do H1NI, influenza, needles, swine flu and others. In future also, it will be beneficial for us. We will have a proper virology set-up. 

 “Five rooms are enough for it. You need one room for bio hazard, decontamination room, PCR and others.  It will take some time to set up. Let's hope that it will get started soon”, adds Dr Sonam Angmo.   
 
Talking about the generation of bio hazard waste, Dr. Angchuk says, “Not many wastes will be generated from this lab. What we can do is that we can bring an Incinerator or autoclave to dispose that. The quantity of the waste will be not much.”
 
Jamyang Tsering Namgyal and Dr Angchuk inform that the lab will be set up at Chushot in the forest budgeted accommodation (Guest House) which is  200-300 mtr away from Imam Bargha and not in use.

Dr Angchuk also says that work has already been started by PWD and PDD. PDD has already completed the installation of 100 kv transmitter. And other works like internal wiring, installation of sink will be done by Ladakh Development Authority as the building was constructed by them. 

For the installation of the machines, expert engineers will be brought, and it would be completed within a month.