Five genome sequencing labs shut down in India due to lack of funds: Report

In a major blow to India’s genome-sequencing efforts to identify the specific variant in each COVID-positive case, five labs have been forced to shut down, health ministry sources told NDTV.

The labs, part of INSACOG, or the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genetics Consortium, shut down due to a shortage of reagents used in the genome sequencing process. 

Delays in the sequencing of samples are because of a lack of funds for chemical reagents, NDTV reported.

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Reagents are substances added to the sample to trigger a chemical reaction. The shortage of these substances is a major roadblock in the government’s efforts to speed up genome sequencing and identify the number of cases caused by the highly contagious omicron variant – believed to be responsible for the third wave of infections.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi had told senior government officials earlier this month, “There is a need for continuous scientific research… including genome sequencing, given that the virus is evolving continuously.”

Genome sequencing in the country has decreased by 40% compared to last month. Just about 25,000 genomes have been sequenced since the omicron variant was first reported in November, according to the NDTV report. 

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Meanwhile, India logged 3,17,532 new coronavirus infections, the highest in 249 days, according to the data updated by the Union Health Ministry on Thursday.

This took the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,82,18,773, which includes 9,287 cases of the Omicron variant.

There has been a 3.63 per cent increase in omicron cases since Wednesday, the ministry said. Experts said it is not possible to undertake genome sequencing of each and every sample but stressed that the current wave is largely being driven by omicron.