Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a serious impact on the lives and livelihoods of people globally. India ranks 2nd in terms of infection with more than 48 lakh positive cases. While the mortality rate is significantly below the global average, the number of daily positive cases being reported has reached a staggering 90,000 and the number continues to climb. While halting the spread of infection is the ultimate aim, at this stage extending the use of testing to generate data and improve management and forward planning is the next logical step. Ramping up testing capacity to cover as much of the population as possible would benefit public health authorities and orgnaisations alike. Data published on the ICMR website indicates that India has conducted close to 5.72 crore COVID-19 tests so far.
After the initial weeks of near-total lockdown, the country is cautiously resuming economic activities. Organisations across the board, including Syngene, have implemented safety measures to keep employees and facilities safe. However, as the prevalence of infection increases, it is important to continue to look for ways to strengthen protective measures. At Syngene, we are using extensive testing to keep our employees and their families safe while offering testing services to other companies for the same purpose.
A case for proactive testing
Proactive testing is a critical strategy in controlling the spread of COVID-19, particularly in identifying asymptomatic carriers who may unknowingly transmit the virus. By implementing regular testing protocols, organizations can:
Detect infections early and isolate affected individuals.
Prevent outbreaks within the workplace.
Maintain business continuity and protect employee health.
Build confidence among employees and stakeholders.
Support public health efforts by reducing community transmission.
Proactive testing is especially valuable in high-density work environments or where remote work is not feasible. It complements other safety measures like masking, distancing, and sanitization.
Syngene’s Experience with Proactive Testing
Syngene implemented a proactive testing program from July to August 2020, focusing on early detection and containment. Key elements of their approach included:
Random Sampling: Employees were randomly selected for RT-PCR testing to identify asymptomatic cases.
Testing Methodology: RT-PCR tests were used for active infection detection, while ELISA tests helped assess antibody presence.
Outcomes:
Asymptomatic cases were successfully identified.
Transmission within the workplace was minimized.
Employee confidence in workplace safety increased.
Expansion: The program was extended to cover all onsite employees.
Travel Protocols: Employees traveling to other locations followed a strict testing and quarantine protocol.
Syngene’s proactive testing helped ensure operational continuity while safeguarding employee health.
Testing support to other organisations
Syngene has tied up with more than 50 organisations to test samples taken from their employees including: Cipla, Tata Aerospace and Defence (Tata Advanced Materials Ltd., Tata Advanced Systems Ltd., Tata Power SED) Baxter and Aurigene. A tie-up with ELCITA (Electronics City Industrial Township Authority) allows its 200-member organisations to use Syngene testing services for their employees. With our experience in conducting testing, we support organisations as required:
• Help to establish sample size considering the total on-campus employee population
• Onsite sampling by experienced technicians at customer premises and collection of samples
• Professional management of health records
• Advice on appropriate type of testing methodology (PCR, rapid test, antibody test etc)
• Rapid turnaround of test results – in line with govt requirements
• Advice on support for positive cases
• Anonymised data provided in real time • Additional testing in case of outbreaks can be arranged at short notice
The COVID-19 pandemic is a major global health crisis of unprecedented nature. At Syngene, we are committed to using our scientific expertise and our world class resources not only for the safety of our employees and our work place but also to support the industry, government and the community in the fight against the virus.