Gonoshasthaya postpones Covid-19 test with its kit on drug admin's order

Gonoshasthaya Kendra's Covid-19 testing with its kit G-Rapid Dot Blot has been postponed upon order from the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA). 

Gonoshasthaya Dialysis Centre coordinator Dr Mohibullah Khandakar confirmed the matter to media.

The testing was expected to begin from tomorrow [May 26] at Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital in the capital and Gonoshasthaya Kendra in Savar.

A recent press release from Gonoshasthaya Kendra said that the samples from patients with Covid-19 symptoms will be collected as part of a research, not as a part of any service of diagnosis. 

"We will collect saliva or blood or both the samples following the approved rules of the Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC)," read the press release. 

On April 30, the drug directorate gave the approval to determine the effectiveness of the G-Rapid Dot Blot kit. Later, BSMMU started conducting the performance trial of the kit.

Meanwhile, Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, the man who has been fighting the virus, was tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday.