Govt plans for multiple COVID-19 test methods: DGHS

The government plans to introduce multiple COVID-19 test methods from next month as limited number of high-tech PCR labs cannot meet the growing need for coronavirus tests, directorate general of health services (DGHS) said Tuesday.

“We are gradually expanding testing facilities but this appears ‘not enough’ . . . so we planned to introduce multiple test methods,” DGHS directorate general Abul Kalam Azad told BSS.

He said the new approach would reduce loads on PCR labs and simultaneously would increase the number of tests.

“We may have to test as high as 100,000 sample every day,” Azad said adding “works are underway to expand the testing facilities rapidly”.

The DGHS chief said efforts to expand the test facilities up to upazila level were underway while the government decided to recruit another 3,000 medical technologists and technicians on urgent basis to overcome manpower shortage.