Antigen tests to begin in country on Saturday

The antigen tests will begin in the country on Saturday to diagnose the novel coronavirus.

Confirming the matter, Professor Sabrina Flora, additional director general of DGHS, said, "The test will begin in 10 districts primarily."

The districts are - Panchagargh, Gaibandha, Joypurhat, Patukhali, Meherpur, Munshiganj, Brahmanbaria, Jashore, Madaripur and Sylhet. 

The tests will be conducted at the sadar hospitals of nine districts and in Sylhet, Shaheed Shamsuddin Medical College will carry out the antigen tests.

If the antigen test for Covid-19 detection on a person comes positive, he or she will be considered 100% Covid-19 positive, and no other test is required in that case, the health ministry said earlier.

However, if the result of the antigen test is negative, the Covid-19 infection should be confirmed through a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) or Gene Expert test, it also said in its recently issued guidelines.

The guidelines say the antigen test should be done within 1 to 7 days once Covid-19 symptoms develop in a person. This test can be done in areas where PCR testing is not available and where the infection rate is high.

Earlier on 17 September, the approval for antigen test was given in a notification signed by Dr Bilkis Begum, deputy secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19 also advised the authorities to take all-out preparations to prevent and control a probable second wave of the novel coronavirus in the country.