BCSIR starts making low cost Covid testing kits

The Bangladesh Council of Science and Industrial Research (BCSIR) has developed an affordable Covid-19 testing kit for the first time in Bangladesh, reports UNB.

Professor Md Aftab Ali Sheikh, chairman of BCSIR, made this announcement at a press conference at the BCSIR auditorium in the capital on Sunday.

Scientists from BCSIR, Dhaka University and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Medical University jointly contributed to developing the kit named 'BCSIR Covid kit', he added.

"When it comes to the market, the price of the coronavirus testing kit will be Tk 250 which is ten times less than the present cost".

"Covid-19 kits currently being used by the government are costly. Now, each corona test costs approximately Tk 3,000-3,500. Bangladesh has so far tested 146,43,945 samples. This large number of identification kits had to be imported entirely, which is having some negative impact on the country's economy," BCSIR said.

The Department of Drug Administration has approved the production of the kit. Besides, Bangladesh Medical Research Council has given ethical clearance for the kit.

Science and Technology Affairs Minister Yafesh Osman was present at the event.

Among others present were Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Treasurer Professor Dr Mohammad Atiqur Rahman, Dhaka University Professor Rafiqul Hasan and BCSIR Chief Scientist Salim Khan.