Govt to dedicate a lab for testing of PPEs, masks, coveralls

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Mint. “Currently there is no central medical devices testing laboratory which is having facility for testing medical textiles such as coveralls, facemasks, surgical gowns, surgical drapes etc," it said.

Queries sent to the health and textile ministry spokespersons did not elicit any response. One of the officials who attended the meeting said that during covid-19 pandemic SITRA was approved by ministry of textile and accepted by the health ministry to test and certify (PPE) and coveralls to be used by frontline healthcare workers.

Prior to the pandemic, India used to import PPEs for its consumption. The company started to manufacture PPEs and coveralls to deal with pandemic situation and it is now considered as the world’s second largest domestic manufacturer of PPEs.

The average market size of this newly created industry is around ₹7000 crores. SITRA is empaneled by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) under group 2 category for testing medical textiles such as coveralls, facemasks, surgical gowns, surgical drapes etc.

The lab is accredited by NABL and is largely being used by the textile industry. “The board agreed in principle for the notification of SITRA for testing of medical textiles under the Medical Devices Rules, 2017," said the official adding that adding that laboratory will be inspected by Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) officials to review the facilities available in the laboratory.