Unsung Warriors: Microbiology dept of Silchar Medical leading from the front in fight against COVID-19

May 28: It was 6.45 PM on 31 March, 2020 when State Health Minister, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted, “A 52-year-old person has been found positive for #Coronavirua and is Assam’s first #Covid19 patient. He is undergoing treatment at Silchar Medical College.” Panic broke out among the people of the state in general and in Barak Valley in particular. Since then, 118 days have elapsed and now the COVID-19 tally in Barak Valley has reached 90. 

It was then that terms like screening, swab samples, microbiology started to become the topic of household discussion. Many even thought that the swab samples are sent for testing outside Assam. Hardly, people in general knew that the Microbiology department at Silchar Medical College & Hospital (SMCH) was well equipped in doing ‘coronavirus test’ and that too with accuracy. As days passed by, the lab at SMCH started working 24×7,  testing samples not only of the three districts of Barak Valley, but also of Dima Hasao and Mizoram.

“We are now working round the clock as a dedicated team. Those of us working in the COVID-19 Testing Laboratory at SMCH hardly find time to think when the sun sets and moon rises in the distant horizon. Before completing a series of tests, another new set is ready before us. Probably the watchman has even forgotten when he had locked the lab for the last time !” This was said by a workaholic Dr. Debadatta Dhar Chanda, Head of the COVID-19 Testing Laboratory at SMCH, during an interaction with way2barak.

Till now, the lab at SMCH has tested 6,862 swab samples, out of which 6,778 were negative and 84 were positive. “We finalise the reports within 24 hours of receiving them. But in some cases, it even takes little more time. Usually when a sample comes out to be positive, we recheck it again to be cent percent sure,” said Dr. Chanda.

The team which works in the COVID-19 Testing Laboratory at SMCH is a harmonious blend of experience and dedication. The team which works in the lab along with Dr. Debadatta Dhar Chanda comprises of Dr. Supriya Upadhyay, Research Scientist of Viral Research Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL). She is the key person involved in this task. Both of them along with a few technicians took training in this field at The National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune in 2019. They are well assisted by Dr. Nivedita Dasgupta, Research scientist, MRU. Besides them, few research scholars from Assam University, PG students of Microbiology, technical staff of VRDL, MRU and staff of DBT, ICMR are also actively involved in the swab testing process at SMCH.

Dr. Chanda said, “Official work, data entry, report production, stock management are done by Mousumi Dey, Research assistant VRDL and assisted by staff of other sections. Faculties of Microbiology Dr. S.S. Sen, Dr. Basabdatta Choudhary, Dr. Purnima Rajkhowa are also working very hard. Demonstrators are managing collection of specimen with the help of technicians. Faculties are involved in overall management. Junior faculties are doing slot making, supervision of sample sorting etc.”

When asked about the risks involved in the process of testing swab samples, Dr. Debadatta Dhar Chanda gave a broad smile and said, “Someone has to take the risks for survival of human kind.” In lucid terms she explained the various stages involved in the processing of COVID-19 test. She said, “The 1st two stages involved in this process is definitely of high risk. The 1st stage is that of swab sample collection. We have trained those who are involved in this work. It’s extremely risky because at this stage, there are chances of aerosol production and should be done by wearing the PPE kit. The 2nd stage is that of RNA extraction. It is also a high risk task and needs to be done only by wearing PPE kit. The next stage is that of RTPCR, which ofcourse could be done by wearing a simple laboratory gown and putting on a N95 mask.

Dr. Debadatta Dhar Chanda and her team has also trained doctors and technical staff of Zoram Medical College, Aizawl. “Previously, all samples from Mizoram used to be sent to SMCH for testing. But now, as we have trained their doctors and staff, they are capable to do the testing all by themselves at Aizawl,” said Dr. Chanda.

Sharing her experiences about Jamal Uddin, the 52-year-old 1st COVID-19 patient of Assam, Dr. Chanda said. “He was so strongly positive that he had to be kept under treatment for more than a month. In between, several tests were performed, but all were positive. He was diabetic since more than 15 years and was also malignant. We were happy that finally after a month, his reports came as negative and he was ultimately discharged on 6 May, 2020.” When asked that Jamal Uddin had expressed doubts, “if at all he was positive,” Dr. Chanda again with a smile on her face said, “Look Sir, we are doing our duty with sincerity and we will continue to do so. We do not have the time to bother ourselves about such claims. We even don’t have the leisure to get demoralised by such claims. We are here to help people live and let live.”

The COVID-19 Testing Laboratory at SMCH was initially doing around 5 to 10 tests a day in March, which has now increased to some hundreds in the recent days. As the head of the testing lab, Dr. Debadatta Dhar Chanda said, “We are capable of doing 1000 tests a day, provided more machines and technical staff are provided to us. We have brought machines from Assam University and MRU also. Sample size can be increased easily with additional machines and human resource.”

Persons like Dr. Debadatta Dhar Chanda and her entire team are indeed the “Unsung Warriors” working 24×7 inside their lab at SMCH. Appreciating their contribution, Silchar MP Dr. Rajdeep Roy, who is also the Vice Chairman of SMCH said, “We are indeed proud of the Microbiology Department of SMCH, who are toiling hard, round the clock, since the last two months under the guidance of Dr. Debadatta Dhar Chanda. They are doing fantastic job with accuracy. I salute these unsung COVID warriors.”