THANE: Thane civic body’s first Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing laboratory, at Wadia Hospital, started operations. The response time for Covid-19 cases in Thane is likely to decrease now, as tests will not have to be sent to Mumbai labs. The lab can analyse up to 100 samples a day.Officials said 60 tests of those in institutional quarantine were undertaken in the last two days. “Though the testing time is the same, the amount of time spent in sending the samples and getting the reports from Mumbai has been cut. We can treat a patient as soon as the test is done,” said an official.They are currently testing only those in insitutional quarantine.