Staff Reporter :
For speedy detection of infections, the government has decided to permit private laboratories conducting rapid antigen covid tests.
The health authority also has fixed the fee for each test as Tk700, sources said.
A gazette regarding this will be issued within days.
The antigen test is a quick way to test the covid infection taking about 20 to 30 minutes only.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Thursday night said only hospitals of high standards would be allowed to conduct rapid antigen tests.
The government took the fresh initiative following the recommendation of the Directorate General of Health Service (DGHS) to introduce antigen testing in private hospitals, clinics and laboratories, alongside the RT-PCR test for Covid-19.
Meanwhile, the government hospitals are charging Tk100 for the antigen test.
After recommendations from public health experts and the National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19, the government started the Rapid antigen tests in the country.
The government hospitals started the Rapid antigen tests on December 5 last year in 10 frontier districts.
The DGHS make it mandatory to start the testing in private facilities as per experts recommendations to increase testing for taking necessary measures in time.
The Directorate General of Drug Administration had already approved two antigen test kits – Biosensor and Panbio for using in laboratories in the country. The cost of the both kit is Tk 500 per piece.
