While Mumbai has its own genome sequencing lab, the BMC will be sending the Covid positive samples to the National Institute of Virology in Pune, sources told mid-day. The decision has been taken in order to get early results of sequencing.

The Union health ministry had instructed all states to conduct genome sequencing to keep track of any new variants. The BMC has its own genome sequencing lab at Kasturba Hospital, which has been in use since July 2021. The last report of genome sequencing was published in the first week of November where all 234 samples were found to be sub-variants of Omicron. Since the number of daily cases dropped to less than 10 after that, the BMC hasn’t been getting many samples to run the test. The lab can test 384 samples simultaneously and the cost of sequencing them is R10,06,500. To carry out sequencing with fewer samples is hence, not financially viable, the source said.