KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry is aiming to increase its full genome sequence analysis capacity to 5,000 samples a month.
This is to ensure Covid-19 variants of concern (VOC), such as the fast-spreading Omicron variant can be detected quickly said Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
He said the government, through its consortium will be able to increase the whole genome sequencing (WGS) capacity to 3,000 samples a month by January, next year.
"I have applied to the Finance Ministry for an additional allocation so that we can further increase the Health Ministry's WGS capacity by about 2,000 samples per month by outsourcing them to private labs.
"Hence, we would be able to conduct full genome sequence analysis on 5,000 samples a month," he said at a press conference here today.
He said four hospital laboratories in the Peninsula can conduct variant screening, namely Tuanku Jaafar Seremban Hospital, Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital Alor Star, Sungai Buloh Hospital and Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital Ipoh.
He said four other hospitals in Sarawak have also strengthened their laboratory capacity by conducting the variant screening.
"This screening is conducted on all travellers from abroad as well as high-risk cases.
"WGS is carried out by the IMR-MOSTI-KPT-MGI Consortium; consisting of seven members namely Institute for Medical Research; National Public Health Laboratory; Institute of Health and Community Medicine, UNIMAS; UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute; Tropical and Infectious Diseases Research Centre (TIDREC), Universiti Malaya; UiTM iPROMISE Institute; and Malaysia Genome Institute, MOSTI.
"The first stage of analysis happens at the country's international gateways where the authorities use an affordable kit to detect S-gene target failure (in Omicron identification).
"This will inform us if it is a presumptive Omicron sample. The samples will then be sent to the labs for WGS. Although, a large number of presumptive Omicron were later confirmed Omicron cases."
Khairy said sample selection for the Covid-19 Genomic Surveillance Study is done based on several strategies.
"(The samples involve) cases from the area under close surveillance for high transmission or with a significant increase in cases over a short period of different age groups; different severity from mild to severe or fatal cases; or different locality within the state.
"Cases identified at the international points of entry. Children in the area with an increase in the incidence of paediatric cases.
"Severe cases among those less than 60 years old and without underlying comorbidity as well as severe cases among younger patients without any underlying comorbidities.
"Patients with unusual manifestations, cases suspected of reinfection, healthcare Workers (HCW) and some from the community, with breakthrough infections upon completion of vaccination; and any deaths or Brought-in-Deaths (BID) cases with RT-PCR SARS Cov-2 positive results."