The government has launched free antigen test in 10 districts today (Dec 5) for rapidly detecting the presence or absence of coronavirus antigen in the patient’s body.

The government has taken the decision as the temperature has started dropping with arrival of winter.

The Health and Family Welfare Ministry has rolled out the antigen test for people in 10 districts initially. Later, it will be extended in other districts in phases.

According to Dr Md Habibur Rahman, director (Management Information System) of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the antigen test will start in 10 districts from Saturday. The antigen test will be available at hospitals without any cost.

In the first phase, the DGHS will start the test in district hospitals where it is necessary.

The antigen test would begin in 10 other districts in the next week, he added.

According to the DGHS, the antigen test has started in Sadar hospitals of Panchagarh, Gaibandha, Joypurhat, Patuakhali, Meherpur, Munshiganj, Brahmanbaria, Jashore and Madaripur, and at Shaheed Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital in Sylhet.

However, though the government is going to start the rapid antigen test to detect coronavirus infections, it has not taken any initiative yet to introduce the antibody test.

DGHS sources said the National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19 in its meeting held on September 17 advised the government to start the antigen and antibody tests alongside the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test.

Currently, the coronavirus detection activities are being run through RT-PCR test system at 118 government and private testing centres across the country, including the capital.

BDST: 1155 HRS, DEC 05, 2020
SMS