Govt likely to test one lakh coronavirus samples each day: DGHS
The government plans to introduce multiple COVID-19 test methods from the following month as limited number of high-tech PCR labs appeared insufficient to cater the growing dependence on an expanded coronavirus testing campaign, directorate general of health services (DGHS) said on Tuesday.
"We are gradually expanding testing facilities but this looks 'not enough' . . . so we plan to introduce multiple check methods to scale up the evaluating countrywide," DGHS directorate standard Prof Abul Kalam Azad advised BSS.
He said the new procedure would reduce plenty of PCR labs, currently the lone means to find COVID-19, and simultaneously would widen the insurance policy coverage of folks who required testing.
"The problem may demand us to take on initiatives to check as high as one lakh sample each day," Azad stated adding "gets results are underway swiftly to expand the tests facilities".
The DGHS chief said efforts to expand the test facilities up to upazila level were underway as the government made a decision to recruit on urgent basis another 3,000 medical technologists and technicians to overcome manpower shortage”.
The pandemic earlier prompted the federal government to recruit 2,000 doctors and 5,000 nurses within an extra-ordinary process while he said the prevailing doctors and health employees were as well being trained to handle the COVID-19 suspects and patients.
Azad said the multiple assessment methods appearing planned for the country included "antigen, nucleic acid and anti-human body 'dry and wet' exams from next month.
According to authorities in DGHS "antigen" is an advanced COVID-19 testing method that gives sample test results within a shortest feasible time without the PCR laboratory facility.
Antigen and Nucleic Acid assessment methods provide results than that of the PCR labs even while rather than swabs, bloods are actually tested in other kind of machines as the Antigen test was costlier than the other ones.
The professionals said the "anti-body test" is a blood-based test but it requires a longer time, seven to 10 days, to provide the result.
"Dry out and wet are two various kinds of cononavirus testing . . . the initially one is completed with the aid of strips while the second one demands alignment machines . . . in both the cases blood is tested, certainly not swab, and results is found within a very short time," Azad said.
The very best health official's comments came as the problem suggested that the PCR labs and the related equipment and products were subjected to extra-loads amid expansion of sample collection facilities despite shortage of trained workforce.
Azad, on the other hand, said shortage of assessment equipment want PCR labs, packages, and personal protective equipment (PPE) was a worldwide phenomenon as virtually all countries were exposed to the crisis while “Bangladesh is no exception”.
He said the government currently was importing 20,000 to 30,000 testing products at a time from different countries as it appeared out of the question to locate a single source due to growing global demands and restrictions on the exports.
"But we have intensified our attempts to gather PCR kits . . . we will import one to two lakh kits at the same time from next month. Simultaneously we will purchase more PCR lab to improve sample test in large number from the month of July," Azad added.
Bangladesh is currently undertaking RT-PCR assessments alone through 62 PCR labs, mostly in authorities facilities as the DGHS chief said an activity was underway to create more labs.
Currently the 62 PCR labs carryout 15,000 to 18,000 sample tests everyday while generally 3,000 to 4,000 appear COVID-19 positive, meaning 20 percent of suspects who go through the exercise are so far being found to be carrying the deadly virus.
Officials acquainted with the PCR lab functions said, regarding monitory involvement, each one of the labs requires Tk 1 crore as installation price alone and the average amount of Tk 5,000 for assessment per sample alongside associated expenditures.
Former DGHS chief Prof Dr MA Faiz, who all currently is engaged along with his former business office as a specialist, said Bangladesh needed increased COVID-19 testing for two causes - surveillance and isolation measure.
"An intensified testing plan would determine how many people are infected and which areas will be hardest-hit kinds . . . this will enable authorities to manage the pandemic properly," he said.
