Covid-19 testing at Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) has come to a halt due to a shortage of rapid antigen kits.
The testing stopped at around 1pm on Thursday when the remaining kits ran out. Since then, patients presenting with symptoms have been advised to isolate and undergo treatment without testing. The testing service remained suspended on Friday as well.
According to hospital sources, samples from 15 individuals were tested at the facility until 1pm on Thursday.
Among them, one person positive for Covid-19. He is reportedly in good health and is receiving treatment at home.
Another patient, who had been admitted to the hospital’s Covid-19 ward, has recovered and has been discharged. Currently, only one patient is admitted to the ward.
Dr Khan Ahmed Ishtiaq, the focal person of the hospital’s Covid unit, confirmed that the stock of testing kits had been completely exhausted, resulting in the suspension of testing from Thursday afternoon.
He said: “As the PCR lab at the medical college is out of service, alternative testing options are also unavailable.”
He added: “Multiple urgent appeals have been sent to the Directorate General of Health Services requesting fresh supplies. Testing will resume as soon as new kits are received.”
He further said that for now, symptomatic patients are being advised to remain in isolation and seek treatment accordingly.
He also said: “However, no new patients have been admitted so far. An initial requisition for 5,000 kits has already been submitted to the Ministry of Health. Once the kits arrive, testing services can be reinstated.”
