Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College began testing samples for coronavirus (Covid-19) from noon today.

Testing of 94 samples has started at a lab established in the medical college, said Sylhet Divisional Health Office Assistant Director (disease control) Dr Md Anisur Rahman.

Besides, 116 samples collected from four districts of the division will be tested in the lab gradually, he said.

The lab is capable of testing 94 samples in four hours, he said, adding that the test results would be sent to Dhaka's Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control And Research (IEDCR).

Earlier on March 30, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machine that is used to test novel coronavirus reached the hospital and was installed at the microbiology and virology laboratory of the medical college.

Since the coronavirus outbreak began in Bangladesh, the IEDCR was the only authorised organisation to test suspected Covid-19 patients.

Presently, tests are being conducted at different laboratories in Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, and Mymensingh alongside Sylhet while laboratories in Khulna and Barishal are being installed.