Gonoshasthaya Kendra will start clinical trials for its Covid-19 rapid testing kit from Tuesday, says its founder Zafrullah Chowdhury.
The Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) is now conducting external validation of the kit. After it is completed, the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) will decide on approving it.
Gonoshasthya says they will start clinical trials of its kit on a limited scale on suspected patients — 50 -100 persons per day.
“The kit is yet to be approved but we will do it on humanitarian grounds,” Zafrullah said.
According to him, a final clearance for the testing kit cannot be expected before June.
“It will take a month to go for mass production after the approval as we would need to source raw materials, as well as some other preparations needed,” said the Gonoshasthya Kendra founder.
The organization will conduct tests at their facilities in the capital’s Dhanmondi and Savar, he said before adding both antigen and antibody will be tested.
The tests will allow knowing both whether a person is infected or recovered, said Zafrullah.
