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CMCH to launch coronavirus test lab


Published : 10 Apr 2020 10:09 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 12:03 AM

A Polymer Chain Reaction (PCR) Lab will be opened in the Microbiology Department of Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) in the next few days.

All preparations have been made to launch the lab at the behest of the Ministry of Health. The machines and other equipment will arrive in Chittagong within a few days, said Chittagong civil surgeon Dr Sheikh Fazle Rabbi.

According to CMC sources, a corona virus test lab has been set at the Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Disease (BITID) Hospital in Faujdarhat of Chattogram. The Department of Health has taken initiative to set up new labs for testing corona virus infection in divisional cities. 

The CMC has received directives from the Health Department to set up a new lab in Chittagong city already. Meanwhile, three class rooms have been prepared at the microbiology department to set up the lab. On this side of the city, people rushed to the government and private hospitals in case of colds, coughs and shortness of breath. But they do not get medical treatment because there is no doctor.

Chittagong General Hospital’s Isolation Unit’s Samples collected from patients admitted with various symptoms of cold are collected and sent to BITID daily.

Chittagong Civil Surgeon Dr Sheikh Fazle Rabbi said PCR labs are being set up in the microbiology department of CMC Hospital. In this case, reports of samples taken from patients admitted to the isolation unit with corona virus symptoms will be available quickly. The townspeople will benefit from the lab.

Independent Medical Council leader Dr Farhad Uddin Chowdhury Maruf said a PCR machine would be set up at Chittagong Medical College to test corona virus infection. 

In the next few days, efforts are being made to set up quality labs for Chittagong residents. Already machine have been assigned. Chittagong people will get a new lab to test corona virus soon.

The Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Disease (BITID) started corona virus test in Faujdarhat of Chattogram from March 26. However, the BITID authorities are busy to test the samples for a few days. The samples are being collected every day. All the tests cannot be done within 5 days. A total of 440 test samples have been collected in the city.Of them, 414 samples were tested.

Corona virus was detected in 5 people. The identified five are undergoing treatment in the Isola­tion Unit of Chitta­gong General Hos­pital currently.