Testing efficacy of kits should not take more than 7 days: Zafrullah

Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Zafrullah Chowdhury
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Gonoshasthaya Kendra scientists Bijon Kumar Sil and Mohibullah Khandaker on Wednesday morning handed over samples of rapid test kits invented by the organisation to the committee of experts formed at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).

The Gonoshasthaya Kendra scientists invented the kits to detect novel coronavirus infections.

After handing over the kits to the BSMMU committee around 11:00am, Mohibullah Khandaker said, “The BSMMU committee asked for the samples of the kit to us yesterday (Tuesday). We’ve submitted 200 kits for the first round of testing. We’ve told the committee that we’re ready to help them if they face any technical problem.”

Later, Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Zafrullah Chowdhury told newsmen, “The efficacy testing should not require more than seven days in any way. I hope we’ll get a positive result by that time and will provide enough kits to the people.”

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“It shouldn’t require more than two days for giving approval to the use of the kit after getting the results. If the government wants the kits after the approval, we’ll give them those along with the required training on its use,” the Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder added.

Earlier, Zafrullah Chowdhury said they achieved success in both antibody and antigen tests for detection of the presence of novel coronavirus though the two tests are different.

But the Gonoshasthaya Kendra submitted the kits for testing presence of coronavirus antibody to the BSMMU authorities.

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If the committee asks for antigen test kits, Zafrullah Chowdhury said, they are ready to give that as well.

“This is a national crisis. We’ve to face it with all the capabilities we have. Everyone has to understand the importance of the situation,” he insisted.

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Observing BSMMU’s apparent procrastination in testing the efficacy of the rapid test kit, Gonoshasthaya Kendra on Monday held a media conference requesting the government to issue a provisional certificate to use their kit.

Following the Gonoshasthaya Kendra’s application, the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) on 30 April issued a letter to the BSMMU authorities to test the capacity of the kit, the Kendra scientists invented to detect novel coronavirus infections.

Later on 2 May, the BSMMU authorities formed a 6-member committee to test the capacity of the kit.