Covid-19 testing kits produced by Gonoshasthaya Kendra Rajib Dhar/Dhaka Tribune

The problem will be solved within four to five days, the Kendra says

Gonoshasthaya Kendra (GK) has asked the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) to suspend the performance trial of its coronavirus antigen kit after detection of incongruity in the collection of saliva.

Dr Mohib Ullah Khondoker, coordinator of “GK Covid-19 Rapid Dot Blot Project” sent a letter in this regard to BSMMU vice chancellor on Tuesday.

The institution however, requested BSMMU authority to cooperate for the speedy completion of the trial of the antibody test kit and submit the report to the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) so that the latter can authorize mass production and marketing of the antibody test kit.

The letter read: “Recently some irregularities have been found while collecting sample and complication have also risen in  detection in the GR Covid-19 antigen test kit."

“The presence of appropriate particles have not been found in the samples collected to detect the antigen in maximum cases.”

The monitoring team of performance trial identified this problem. To solve the problem, the RNA Biotech lab team is working to find a way to properly use saliva in their RND lab.

The letter requested a stop to the antigen kit test while a proper solution is found to fix the error of saliva c.

The letter also said if necessary, GK will supply new kits instead of old ones.

Dr Mohib told Dhaka Tribune: “We have sought temporary suspension of the trial. Only saliva is necessary for testing antigen, but the monitoring team identified problems in the sample collection procedure. Our testing is ongoing, we will fix the problem within five days."

The matter is only a finding a new procedure of collecting samples, the project coordinator said.