Mangaluru: FMMCH gets ICMR nod for Covid19 testing

Team Udayavani, May 19, 2020, 8:35 PM IST

Mangaluru: The Father Muller Medical College Hospital (FMMCH) laboratory has received ICMR approval for Covid 19 testing by RT-PCR method on Tuesday May 19.

The Father Muller Medical College was one of the center which was shortlisted by the mentor center, NIMHANS, Bengaluru to start RT-PCR testing for COVID-19, in wake of the pandemic.

Dr Anup Kumar Shetty, professor in Microbiology department of FMMC underwent training in NIMHANS, Bengaluru, for this purpose even during the time of lockdown.

The FMMCH laboratory is accredited by NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) since 2012 and already had state of the art facilities for RT-PCR testing. The lab first participated in NIMHANS proficiency testing and later participated in NABL assessment for adding SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR in the scope of tests before getting final ICMR approval.

The laboratory follows National/International standards guidelines, participates in proficiency testing, performs periodic calibrations of equipment, and follows strict safety precautions and biomedical waste management. Well trained team of faculty, staff and data operators have put in their hard work to reach high standards in medical testing. FMMCH is already NABH accredited and medical college is NAAC accredited.

The hospital as in wake of the pandemic set-up isolation wards with sufficient ventilators and necessary PPE’s for staff. The staffs have been briefed on the protocols to be followed as laid down by the central and state government under the supervision of the district authorities. Dr Uday Kumar, Medial Superintendent FMMCH, has been in constant touch with the authorities in wake of the pandemic and extended the hospitals service to the district.

COVID 19 RT-PCR test will be done only for suspected cases as per ICMR protocol on prescription by physicians with proper documentation using ICMR RT-PCR app. A dedicated KIOSK for sample collection is also available at the hospital for out-patients. Specimens are transported to the lab through proper cold chain and safety protocols.

The management headed by the president of FMCI Fr Peter Paul Saldanha also the bishop of Mangalore diocese, the director FMCI Fr Richard Aloysius Coelho have guided the institutional growth through their exemplary vision.

The administrator FMMCH Fr Rudolph Ravi D’Sa, has been meticulously overseeing the procurement of the laboratory equipment and putting in place the necessary protocols. Administrator FMMC Fr Ajith Menezes has looked into the infrastructure and logistics to develop the lab.

The hospital has been at the service of the nation and its people for 140 years and will ever remain to do so, said in a news release by the liaison officer Dr Kelvin Peter Pais.

Media Release