RANGPUR, March 28, 2020 (BSS) – The Rangpur Medical College (RMC) authority is setting up a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine on maximum priority basis at the Laboratory of its Department of Microbiology in the city.
“We are setting up the PCR machine with the assistance of the Public Works Department (PWD) to test coronavirus (COVID-19) infection of suspected patents of Rangpur division,” Principal of RMC Professor Dr. AKM Nurunnabi Laizu told BSS today.
The RMC authority started installation of the PCR machine from Friday morning after receiving the same with all necessary accessories on Thursday midnight from the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).
Earlier on Wednesday, Director of IEDCR Professor Dr. Meerjady Sabrina Flora announced to set up PCR machines at divisional headquarters at a live video conference to make testing facilities of COVID-19 available across the country.
“We hope to complete installation of the PCR machine at the laboratory by Sunday to begin testing of COVID-19 infection of 90 suspected patients at a time with their samples of throat swabs, blood, sweat and cough to get results in a day,” Dr. Laizu said.
The RMC authority has formed a medical team after discussion with specialist physicians and the process of appointing necessary manpower continues to smoothly run the PCR machine at the laboratory at the earliest possible time.
“On completion of installation of the PCR machine, we will inform the IEDCR to get necessary kits to begin testing of COVID-19 infection of suspected patients at the RMC laboratory,” Dr. Laizu added.