SMCH creates history, becomes first medical college in Assam to cross 2 lakh RT-PCR tests; DME, Principal lauds

Today morning, sample number 2,00,000 was tested at the Microbiology department of Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH). SMCH becomes the first Medical College in Assam to reach the historical feat. “Assam has so far completed over one crore eighteen lakh tests and out of them, around 24 lakh are RT-PCR tests. Silchar Medical College and Hospital has completed two lakh tests and it is a huge feat. They have done a commendable job and I congratulate the entire team of SMCH very ably led by the HOD Debdatta Dhar Chanda,” said Director of Medical Education, Dr. Anup Barman.

Principal cum Chief Superintendent of SMCH, Dr. Babul Kumar Bezbaruah also congratulated the team. “Hats off to Microbiology Department under the leadership of Debadatta Dhar Chanda and her team for whom we have managed to achieve the feat of testing two lakh samples. At the same time, I would also like to thank National Health Mission Assam for their constant support,” said Dr. Babul Bezbaruah.

On March 31, 2020, Assam got to know about the first COVID-positive patient in the state. The sample was tested at SMCH and the reports were sent to NIV Pune which confirmed Mufti Jamal Uddin Laskar was carrying the infection.

In April 2019, Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) ICMR-NICED was set up in Silchar Medical College and Hospital. With it came the machines necessary for RT-PCR also known as Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. It is a laboratory technique combining reverse transcription of RNA into DNA and amplification of specific DNA targets using polymerase chain reaction. Initially, it was the only way to detect if a person is carrying novel-coronavirus n-cov. Mid-March 2020, NIV Pune approved SMCH as an authorised laboratory to conduct RT-PCR tests.

“Initially, the sample size was very low. But then as vehicular and air traffic opened up, Sramik Express trains started running, the sample size suddenly saw a surge. The team had to face hardships with consumables but the surge in demand was met by the Government of Assam and the Cachar District Administration. They provided the supply necessary and so, we could continue testing samples,” recalls Professor Debadatta Dhar Chanda, head of Microbiology department and in charge of testing.

As people traveled in to Cachar due to the reverse migration induced by the nationwide lockdown the number of tests increased. Also, there was the concept of contact tracing and so if one individual tested positive many who came in contact with the person also were tested. Last year 1800-sample-a-day was the peak the laboratory attained. This year, Dr. Dhar Chanda informs that some days they tested more than 2100 samples.

“We were helped with men and method by Assam University Silchar’s, Department of Microbiology. As their University was shut, research scientists worked with us at the COVID laboratory. NHM and DDMA also helped us. The Cachar district administration helped us with data entry operators. Maintaining the ICMR portals is a task as it requires constant data feeding and the help from District Administration came in handy. Seven faculties of the microbiology department, the staff, the technicians and the faculties of other departments, it has been a collective effort of all of us,” added Dr. Debadatta Dhar Chanda.

There were multiple challenges that the team faced throughout their journey to two lakh tests. One of them was the social challenge. Many questioned the integrity of the tests and some continue to debate it even now. “I am asymptomatic, they have unnecessarily determined me as positive is something that we heard a lot. Some said, after testing positive, nothing happened to them and so it was just a fake positive. It is one such disease where nothing happens to some and for others, it turns fatal, it is just that none of us know which lot is in danger,” she says.

“It is indeed a momentous feat. but the situation is grim so, I cannot say I am happy about it. All I will appeal to the general public is to get tested early. I myself have tested positive, but because I tested early and isolated myself, my husband and son did not get infected. They might get infected from some other source tomorrow, but I could stop the spread of infection by testing and isolating in time,” Dr. Debadatta Dhar Chandra concluded.