Following directions from the Centre, Karnataka Government has directed all ICMR-approved COVID-19 testing labs in the State to send 10% of all positive samples, identified from February 2 to February 28, for genome sequencing.
This is as part of a special genome sequencing surveillance drive to enable detection of new variants proactively. Karnataka has been given a target of 10,000 samples in February.
“As of now, routine genome sequencing is being undertaken with 15 samples fortnightly from each district. However, the Centre has now instructed the State to conduct a special genome sequencing surveillance of COVID-19 with a larger proportion of positive samples,” stated a circular issued in Bengaluru on February 7.
