RMCH gets PCR machine

The machine for Polymerase Chain Reaction testing, known as PCR, has reached the laboratory of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) on Thursday evening, and will be used for detection of coronavirus.

Testing for Covid-19 would be possible when the Public Works Department completes the installation of the machine in a week, RMCH governing body Chairman Fazle Hossain Badsha told The Daily Star yesterday. "By this time, we hope that coronavirus testing kits would be made available at the hospital," Badsha, also a lawmaker from Rajshahi, said.

PCR machines were also provided to six other medical college hospitals across the country, he added.

"Using the machine, we will be able to test Covid-19 with samples of throat swabs and blood, and provide results within a day," said RMCH Deputy Director Dr Saiful Ferdous. He said the hospital is currently witnessing a rush of patients, but could not test them due to lack of testing facility.

Along with the PCR machine, a fresh supply of 1,000 PPE; 1,000 masks; 1,000 hand-gloves and enough sanitiser for doctors and laboratories have also reached the hospital, he added.

Meanwhile, Mymensingh Medical College will receive a PCR machine today, said Prof Dr Chitta Ranjan Debnath, principal of MMC. It will be set up at a lab at the microbiology department.

The lab will be conducted under the supervision of IEDCR, Dr Debnath told our Mymensingh correspondent.