The Hindu : Test for SARS proves negative

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 26, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore

Test for SARS proves negative

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE April 25. The two persons, who were admitted to the isolation unit of Manipal Hospital here, after they showed Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)-like symptoms, have been discharged, as the results of the RT-PCR test done on them were negative, hospital authorities said on Thursday. One person had come to the City from Singapore, while the other had travelled in Canada a few days ago.

The Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test was developed by the Molecular Pathology Department of Manipal Hospital and was carried out on the blood and sputum samples of these patients. The hospital claims it has the first such laboratory in the State to develop a diagnostic test for SARS.

``Our Molecular Pathology laboratory worked to use the RT-PCR methodology and the guidelines developed by the World Health Organisation to deal with the Human Pneumonia Associated Corona virus, the causative agent for SARS. The diagnostic test can now be made available to the public for greater benefit,'' Malathi, Medical Administrator at the hospital, said in a press release.

Manipal Hospital has been performing RT-PCR routinely for patient diagnosis.

The protocol has been laid down in accordance to the WHO guidelines and the primers were synthesised. The test had yielded consistent results in accordance with standards prescribed, the release said.

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