6 private labs to sequence Covid-19 genome in India

The Union Ministry of Science and Technology has included six private genome sequencing laboratories in the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) to intensify the monitoring of genomic variations that could happen in the Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2) virus. The eligible laboratories are Strand Life Sciences, Genotypic Technologies, Medgenome, Eurofins Genomics India (all based in Bengaluru), Delhi-based Mahajan Imaging, and Ahmedabad's Neuberg Supratech Reference Labs.

Welcoming the development, GSK Velu, chairman of Neuberg, said the decision, though late, helps step up vigil against future variants. “We have to do continuous random monitoring to know which variants are circulating in our country,” Velu said.

INSACOG already has 38 government laboratories as part of the consortium. The private laboratories that will join the consortium will be allowed to carry out sequencing only if they follow specific instructions laid out by the Department of Biotechnology, including a clause that prohibits private firms from charging fees from patients for sequencing the samples. The condition stipulates that the samples will be routed and reported via an INSACOG hub laboratory. The designated government laboratories will provide isolated RNA to the private laboratories for construction of c-DNA libraries and sequencing. These samples will be coded and the sequencing information will remain confidential. The private labs will retain the RNA sample for a specific period of time that will be decided soon, the conditions say. The private laboratories will also be subject to monthly quality checks and inspections.

Neuberg’s Velu said that the conditions should be fine as long as the private laboratories are doing Covid-19 sequencing for R&D purposes and/or for CSR purposes. “Our only request to the government would be to consider these expenses as part of our CSR spending so that adequate amount of money can be spent for this activity,” he said.

The conditions set by the ministry also say that the private labs should clearly indicate the source of funding for undertaking sequencing activities. “Private lab has to ensure that financial resources used for the purpose are in compliance of government norms and all due processes and clearances are obtained in advance,” the approval condition states.

INSACOG is a joint initiative of the Union Health Ministry of Health and Department of Biotechnology (DBT), with Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).