The city-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) is setting up a BSL-3 (bio-safety level) facility on its campus for testing swine flu virus.
"The facility is currently going through a validation process and we expect it to be completed by the end of this month. We will then be ready to test H1N1 virus," CCMB's acting Director Veena K Parnaik told reporters here today.
BSL-3 is an air-tight system wherein deadly pathogens are tested.
"The National Institute of Communicable Diseases has been helping us in terms of protocols for the facility while we are also getting the validation done by an external agency. Once this is completed, the facility will be ready to test the virus," Veena said.
There are, however, no plans for taking up any research on H1N1 virus as of now. It could be taken up in future, she said.
Veena said the CCMB will also set up a BSL-4 facility in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research in the coming months.
The proposed facility will test highly drug-resistant viruses, she added.
