Lab issued corpn notice for bungled Covid data record

Lab issued corpn notice for bungled Covid data record

It Delayed Informing Civic Body Of Test Result

Omjasvin.MD@timesgroup.com

Chennai:10,12,2021

The Greater Chennai Corporation has issued a notice to a private lab in Mannadi for improper recording of information about those undergoing Covid tests, which made tracing a Covid positive couple a tough task.

Officials said the lab had also informed the couple first about their test results and delayed informing the corporation.

City health officer Dr M Jagadeesan issued the notice to KHM labs in Mannadi, (zone 5 - Royapuram) seeking a response. The couple was about to fly to Dubai and wanted a Covid-19 negative certificate, officials said. Officials sources told TOI that the husband (42) and wife (38) from Kalmandapam in north Chennai had given samples for Covid-19 tests in the lab on December 4. “The couple had tested positive on December 5 but the private lab did not tell the corporation about their results but informed the couple instantly,” official sources said.

As a result, the couple absconded and did not quarantine or hospitalize themselves. “When informed on Monday, we verified the register of the private lab only to find that the address only had the name of locality but no door number,” officials added.

After locating the right house following searches, officials found the couple hiding inside. “We have admitted them to a private hospital,” officials added.

Shamsuddin of KHM labs, said it was the fault of the data-entry operator. MD of the lab Harris Farvez said they had informed the patients about their positive status on sympathetic grounds as they had a flight ticket to cancel.