The Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDL) scheme was introduced by the Government of India under Department of Health Research - Indian Council of Medical Research as outbreaks of viral agents is very common in India. The Central government announced the establishment of 166 research and diagnostics laboratories in 2016. By 2019, 103 new VRDLs were established across India, taking the total count to 105.
History There were only two apex testing laboratories in India; National Institute of Virology, Pune and National Centre for Disease Control, New Delhi. These undertook the heavy burden investigations resulting in delay of diagnosis of diseases. In order to strengthen the infrastructure for timely diagnosis of viral epidemics and continuous monitoring of existing as well as new viral strains, new diagnostic centres and institutions were sorely needed.
In 2016, the Central government decided to set up 160 virus testing laboratories across the country. These laboratories will also be equipped to handle cases of bio-terrorism.
The Department of health research of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is setting up a three-tier national network of Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDLs). The network is being set up under the department's ongoing research scheme called the Establishment of Network of Laboratories for Managing Epidemics and Natural Calamities.
Objectives of the scheme Source: Creating infrastructures for timely identification of viruses and other agents causing morbidity significant at public health level and specifically agents causing epidemics and/or potential agents for bioterrorism. Developing capacity for identification of novel and unknown viruses and other organisms and emerging-reemerging viral strains and develop diagnostic kits. Providing training to health professionals. Undertaking research for identification of emerging and newer genetically active/ modified agents.
Evaluation of work
The various activities of the Virology Labs will be regularly monitored and guided by the Evaluation Committee, whose findings will be reported to the DHR for information/further action.
The major monitorable targets/ indicators that will be used to review the various categories of Virology Lab.
The scheme has turned out to be hugely successful. As against two VRDL labs in whole of India till 2016; there are now 105 VRDLs operating in India. This expansion is relevant in the context of emerging viral infections and their potential to spread across regions and countries.
Labs
Functional VRDLs testing for COVID-19 There are 62 functional VRDL laboratories across the country capable of testing for the COVID-19 virus as of March 17. Lab and locationStateSri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences, Tirupati Andhra PradeshRangaraya Medical College, Kakinada Sidhartha Medical College, Vijayawada GMC, Anantapur, AP Regional Medical Research Centre, Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Andaman and Nicobar IslandsGauhati Medical College, Guwahati AssamRegional Medical Research Centre, Dibrugarh Silchar Medical College, Silchar Jorhat Medical College, Jorhat Tezpur Medical College, Tezpur ICMR-Rajendra Memorial National Institute of Health Research (ICMR-RM NIHR) - Formerly (ICMR-RMRIMS), PatnaBiharAll India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna BiharPost Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh ChandigarhAll India Institute Medical Sciences, Raipur ChhattisgarhAll India Institute Medical Sciences, Delhi Delhi BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad GujaratM.P.Shah Government Medical College, Jamnagar Pt. B.D. Sharma Post Graduate Inst. of Med. Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana HaryanaBPS Govt Medical College, Sonipat Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, Himachal PradeshHimachal Pradesh Dr.Rajendra Prasad Govt. Med. College, Kangra, Tanda, HPSher-e- Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, SrinagarJammu and Kashmir Government Medical College, JammuGovernment Medical College, SrinagarMGM Medical College, JamshedpurJharkhandBangalore Medical College and Research Institute, BangaloreKarnatakaNational Institute of Virology Field Unit Bangalore Mysore Medical College & Research Institute, MysoreHassan Inst. of Med. Sciences, Hassan, KarnatakaShimoga Inst. of Med. Sciences, Shivamogga, KarnatakaNational Institute of Virology Field Unit, Kerala KeralaGovt. Medical College, Thriuvananthapuram, KeralaGovt. Medical College, Kozhikhode, Kerala Govt. Medical College, ThrissurGovt. Medical College, ErnakulamAll India Institute Medical Sciences, Bhopal Madhya Pradesh National Institute of Research in Tribal Health (NIRTH), Jabalpur NEIGRI of Health and Medical Sciences, Shillong, Meghalaya Meghalaya Indira Gandhi Government Medical College, NagpurMaharashtra Kasturba Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Mumbai NIV Mumbai Unit J N Inst. of Med. Sciences Hospital, Imphal-East, Manipur ManipurRegional Institute of Medical Sciences, ImphalRegional Medical Research Centre, BhubaneswarOdisha All India Institute of Medical Sciences, BhubaneswarSCB Medical College and Hospital, CuttackJawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, PuducherryPuducherryIndira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, PuducherryPuducherryGovernment Medical College, Patiala, PunjabPunjabGovernment Medical College, AmritsarSawai Man Singh, JaipurRajasthanDr. S.N Medical College, JodhpurJhalawar Medical College, Jhalawar, RajasthanRNT Medical College, UdaipurSP Med. College, Bikaner, Rajasthan King Institute of Preventive Medicine and Research, ChennaiTamil Nadu Government Medical College, Theni Tirunelveli Medical College, TirunelveliGovt. Medical College, ThiruvarurGovernment Medical College, Agartala North Tripura District Hospital, DharmanagarTripuraGandhi Medical College, Secunderabad TelanganaOsmania Medical College, HyderabadKing's George Medical University, Lucknow Uttar Pradesh Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, VaranasiJawaharlal Nehru Medical College, AligarhGovernment Medical College, HaldwaniUttarakhandNational Institute for Research in Bacterial Infections, Kolkata West Bengal IPGMER, KolkataNorth Bengal Medical College and Hospital, Siliguri
References
External links Indian Council of Medical Research, Official website Department of Health Research, Official website Data Mining Centre of VRDL, Official website