RT-PCR tests to detect Covid not fully dependable

RT-PCR tests to detect Covid not fully dependable

Syed.Akbar@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:11.06.2020

In a finding that could have widespread ramifications, researchers at Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, have found that about 50% of Covid-19 positive samples tested through the standard RT-qPCR test may not yield the correct result.

Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) test has been recommended by the WHO and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and is used globally to detect the virus.

The CCMB scientists found a high percentage of false negative cases while comparing the RT-qPCR with a new test method developed by the them. The new test - R-T-nPCR - is not only cost-effective but can be conducted on a large number of people in a short time, the researchers said. is “We found that taking both standard RT-qPCR tests together, the RT-nPCR test was able to correctly identify 90% of samples detected as positive by RTqPCR. It also detected 13% samples as positive among samples that were negative by the standard RT-qPCR test (likely false negatives),” the scientists said in their research paper which has been uploaded on an online pre-print repository for biological sciences ‘bioRxiv’.

“Based on the experimentally measured false negative rate by RT-nPCR tests from this study, we estimated that as many as 50% of the positive samples may escape detection in single pass testing by RTqPCR in an actual testing scenario,” they added.

The new method uses RTnested PCR and is equally sensitive as RT-qPCR. This method needs a simple PCR machine. It increases the possibility of many more labs doing Covid-19 tests, thereby expanding testing capacity. RT-qPCR requires an expensive qPCR machine, which is not found in many labs in the country.

“The CCMB method is suitable for largescale surveillance,” the researchers claimed.

Poorer show by Indian institutions in QS World University Rankings

Poorer show by Indian institutions in QS World University Rankings

Manash Pratim Gohain & Hemali Chhapia TNN

11.06.2020

NewDelhi: Indian universities made a poorer show at the QS World University Rankings, 2021 with majority of the topranked institutions dropping in their rankings and just four universities in Top 300 as against six last year.

Though IIT-Bombay retained its position as the topranked Indian institution, it too dropped from 152 to 172nd position this year. All the government-run institutions accorded with the Institution of Eminence (IoE) tag, slipped down.

Among the top five Indian universities — IIT-Bombay, IISc-Bangalore, IIT-Delhi, IITMadras and IIT-Kharagpur — the IITs at Kharagpur and Kanpur have fallen out of the Top 300 list. Delhi University, an IoE, falls out of the Top 500 list. This year, 21Indian universities are in Top 1000 as against 24 last year. There is no Indian private university in the Top 650 list.

IIT-Delhi director, Prof V Ramgopal Rao, said, “The character of our institutions is different. Also, it is a marathon we are running, not a 100 metre race.” He said perception-based scores by these agencies are open to a lot of fallacies and other considerations. “We have all had issues with this.” “This is a very dicey and non-transparent metric. International reputation needs an altogether different strategy. We need a global campaign for education like we did ‘Incredible India’ for tourism. In the case of Delhi, at least 200 new recruitments have been made in last few years. Our citations per faculty score have gone down a bit this year because it takes time for new faculty to become productive in our system,” said Rao.

Earlier this year, leading IITs — Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras and Roorkee — decided not to participate in any of the Times Higher Education (THE) — World University Rankings, citing lack of transparency in the methodology of ranking process.

Full report on www.toi.in

RGUKT postpones exams

RGUKT postpones exams

12/06/2020

The Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies (RGUKT), also known as IIIT, Basar, in Nirmal district, has postponed exams for the P2 and E4 second semester examinations in view of the COVID-19 situation. The exams would however be conducted when the situation improves. According to IIIT Basar sources, the institution has adopted the scheme of carry forward for the students of P1, E1, E2 and E3 batches. The students from these batches are to get promoted to the next semester or year but will need to clear the exams whenever the institution holds exams.

NIRF ranking: Two Bengaluru institutions retain top positions

NIRF ranking: Two Bengaluru institutions retain top positions

While IISc. and NLSIU repeat their performance, IIMB slips to second spot

12/06/2020

Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, bagged the top spot in universities ranking in the National Institutional Ranking Framework announced on Thursday; (right) University of Mysore ranked 27th among varsities in the country. Sudhakara Jain & M.A. Sriram

Two Bengaluru-based educational institutions have bagged the topmost rankings in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) announced on Thursday.

While the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) bagged the top spot in the universities ranking and the second spot in the overall ranking, the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) claimed the top spot in the law category. Both institutes retained their earlier rankings.

However, the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) ranking under the management category slipped by one position to be ranked second. An IIMB official said that they were happy to be in the top-three category and will analyse the scores in all parameters in detail.

Meanwhile, NLSIU in a statement said that their perception, teaching and learning outcomes, as well as graduation outcomes have been key contributors for its success in the rankings. “We aim to sustain our performance in these parameters, but will redouble our efforts and focus on research and practice as well as our outreach and inclusivity,” said Sudhir Krishnaswamy, Vice-Chancellor of NLSIU, in a press release.

Anurag Kumar, IISc. director, said he was happy they retained the ranking in the universities category. “We are working on improving our research and international position,” he said.

Educational institutions in the State in the engineering, medical and dental category have bagged several top spots. Seven out of the 40 top spots in the medical institutions category have been bagged by institutions in the State. Twenty-one out of the top 200 spots in the engineering category and 10 of the 30 spots under the dental category have been bagged by the State.

Doctors say they too need time to de-stress

Doctors say they too need time to de-stress

Death of doctor in Hassan district has the fraternity worried

12/06/2020

 

The death of a paediatrician on COVID-19 duty, reportedly following work-related stress, has upset the medical fraternity. They are all worried about their health as many, particularly those in government hospitals, have been working without taking a break for months.

Shivakiran, a paediatrician at the Alur taluk hospital, collapsed while on duty last week and suffered a hematoma. He died in the Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences in Hassan on Wednesday. He had been working at the hospital for the last three months without taking a weekly holiday or leave, like many others in the fraternity.

Appeal to govt.

Forums representing doctors have appealed to the State government to bring down pressure on the medical staff by taking necessary steps. K. Shankar, president of the Hassan unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), said, “It could be managed by dividing the staff into three batches and giving them breaks, holidays on rotation. The State body of the IMA has given its suggestions to the State government in this regard. I hope they will follow these steps to ease the situation.”

“We have all been working without a break all these days,” said a government medical officer, who wished not to be named. The staff members have been given the responsibility of handling fever clinics, where every patient has to be treated as a suspected COVID-19 patient.

“Forget leave, we have not availed of weekly holiday or general holiday in the last three months,” he said.

Even at the workplace, attending to the duty was not normal. They have to take extra care of themselves, besides attending to patients. There have been instances of public picking up arguments with doctors and other staff on the services provided.

“We cannot expect every visitor to be educated and be aware of the present condition. Many people walk in without masks. Sometimes we attend to accident cases where the injured is carried by a group of people. The staff members have to instruct all of them to wear masks and take precautionary measures. All this increase the stress on the staff,” said another doctor.

Besides the pressure at workplace, the doctors had difficulties in taking care of the family needs during the lockdown, said the doctor.

Decision soon on quota for govt. school students

Decision soon on quota for govt. school students

12/06/2020

Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami will soon make an announcement on providing exclusive reservation in medical college admission for government school students who clear NEET, School Education Minister K. A. Sengottaiyan said on Thursday.

Interacting with journalists after inaugurating a vegetable market in Erode, he said the Justice P. Kalaiyarasan Commission, appointed to analyse reasons for government school students not getting admission in medical colleges, submitted its report to Mr. Palaniswami on June 8.

Only after consultations, Mr. Palaniswami announced that all class 10 State board students would be declared “passed” based on quarterly and half-yearly exam marks and attendance. A decision on the fate of private candidates would be announced soon, he added.

High Court asks govt. about lockdown plans

High Court asks govt. about lockdown plans

12/06/2020

Justices Vineet Kothari and R. Suresh Kumar of the Madras High Court on Thursday sought to know whether the State government was planning to impose a complete lockdown in the territorial limits of the Greater Chennai Police.

Making it clear that he was posing the question as a common man, Justice Kumar said the situation was grim. Despite the government’s efforts, the number of people being infected in Chennai appeared to be rising, he noted.