Bangladesh has finally allowed antigen-based rapid testing at government healthcare facilities, according to a health ministry circular.
The development came following repeated calls from health experts, including the national technical advisory committee on Covid-19, for such testing.
Antigen-based rapid testing will be made in parallel with the tests being done at RT-PCR labs with a view to increasing the number of tests.
Health service division under the health and family welfare ministry issued the circular to this effect on Sunday.
But no decision was made yet on antibody testing.
The ministry permitted antigen testing following recommendations from the Directorate General of Health Services and an interim guideline by the World Health Organisation on it earlier this week.
All public medical collage hospitals, district hospitals, state-run RT-PCR labs and allied health institutes countrywide will come under the new testing initiative, reads the circular.
Meanwhile, a draft guideline on the Covid-19 lab expansion policy is well under way at the ministry which also recommends antigen testing.
Once the draft gets approved, the healthcare facilities will have to follow the guideline. The health directorate suggested that the government permit Covid-19 symptomatic patients for antigen testing, and a patient will be kept in isolation if he or she is found positive.
But patients will be go again for RT-PCR testing for confirmation if anyone is found negative in antigen tests, cited the circular.
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