BMC gets new lepto lab for city

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) may not be ready for the monsoon, but it is well equipped to detect rain-related diseases like leptospirosis and dengue.

A first-of-its kind Reference Molecular Diagnostic- PCR laboratory was inaugurated at Kasturba Hospital by Shiv Sena’s executive president Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday.

During the last year floods, the BMC-run city  hospitals were ill equipped in detecting diseases like leptospirosis as samples had to be sent to Pune, Delhi and even Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

“It was a shame that such a facility was not available in Mumbai. I’d like to congratulate the BMC, but at same time hope that Mumbaikars do not get an opportunity to make use of the new facility,” said Uddhav.

Briefing about the lab, Dr Jayanti Shastri, professor and head TN Medical College and Nair Hospital, said, “The prime objective of the lab is to confirm diagnosis of presumptive cases, especially for leptospirosis and dengue. It can also identify cases of malaria, HIV and Hepatitis B infections. We used to do a serological identification of samples which was just a presumptive diagnosis. But now a confirmative diagnosis can be done through the Polymerace Chain Reaction method. Leptospirosis or other such diseases can be detected in its early stages as a fluorescent probe will be captured by the software. The lab will serve as a nodal centre for private laboratories as well.’’

Also present were Municipal Commissioner Johny Joseph, Mayor Shubha Raul, deputy mayor, Vidya Thakur, house leader, Sunil Prabhu, chairman standing committee, Ravindra Waikar, chairman, public health committee Parshuram Desai, and additional municipal commissioner, eastern suburbs.  Kishore Gajbhiye, additional municipal commissioner, eastern suburbs.