COVID-19 Lab: A Whistlestop Journey at a Tertiary Health Care Center

Purpose Right now, our world is in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic. The global spread of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) has dramatically increased the number of suspected cases with an expanding geographical area. The rapid identification of asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic contacts is the priority for clinical management and outbreak control. Suspected cases should be screened for the virus with a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) such as real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) under the guidance of laboratory experts. Materials and methods This manuscript details the process of the establishment of a COVID-19 lab, which is a medical college virology lab (Viral Research Diagnostic Lab), in less than a months' time. Detailed data of the tests were studied over the initial one month and reported. Results Within one and a half months of the start of the lab, 3196 tests were conducted, which caters to five adjoining districts in Western Odisha. These included both symptomatic and asymptomatic cases (contacts with a travel history from affected areas), and six COVID-19 positive cases were detected. Conclusion Though the establishment of a COVID-19 lab in a short time is a challenge, it can be achieved through determination, teamwork, and support from the authorities.