RANGPUR, April 8, 2020 (BSS) – The trained physicians and technologists tested more 56 samples of suspected coronavirus (COVID-19) patients at the COVID-19 Laboratory of the Department of Microbiology at Rangpur Medical College (RMC) today.
“With this, we have tested a total of 178 collected samples of suspected COVID-19 patients here since last Friday,” said Head of the Department of Microbiology of RMC and Superintendent of its COVID-19 Laboratory Associate Professor Dr. Mostakimur Rahman.
Earlier, after collecting samples of suspected COVID-19 patients from all eight districts of Rangpur division, 53 collected samples were tested on Tuesday, 27 on Monday and 42 samples on the first day last Friday at the laboratory.
“Like in the previous days, we sent the testing results of the collected samples to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) today,” Dr. Rahman said.
The samples like throat swabs, blood and sweat and cough of suspected COVID-19 patients are being collected from the district and union levels of Rangpur division before sending the laboratory for testing purposes.
“The trained technologists are collecting samples under supervision of the Civil Surgeons, Superintendents of District Sadar Hospitals and Surveillance Immunization Medical Officers of the World Health Organisation from the grassroots levels,” he added.
Talking to BSS, Focal Point of the COVID-19 Laboratory and Lecturer (Virology) of the Department of Microbiology at RMC Dr. MA Aziz said the testing process and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine are running smoothly at the laboratory.
“We have a capacity of testing up to 94 samples of suspected (COVID-19 patients concurrently using kits, 94 well plates and other inputs received from the IEDCR once a day at the COVID-19 laboratory at RMC,” he said.