HMPV: Labs Wait For Kits, No Testing Facility In Indore

Indore (Madhya Pradesh): While the cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) are increasing in the country, Indore, the cleanest city in the country, is not ready with a testing facility for the swiftly spreading virus.

There is no government facility in Indore for testing virus samples for confirmation, and most private laboratories also don’t have the required kits.

According to sources, MGM Medical College didn’t have the kits for testing the swab samples of the suspected patients if any. However, the college authorities said that there is no requirement for the same as the government has not released any guidelines so far.

“The virus is already prevalent and no guidelines on testing or treatment have been released by the government yet,” Dr VP Pandey, Dean, MGM Medical College, said.

Meanwhile, Central Lab’s Dr Vinita Kothari said that the Indian Council of Medical Research has directed the laboratories to be prepared for any situation.

“Just like Covid-19, RTPCR tests would be done to confirm the virus but kits are not available for the same. We have ordered the kits and will start testing at the earliest,’ Dr Kothari said. Some of the private laboratories claimed to test the HMPV but sources said that they also send the samples to Mumbai or Delhi.