Gonoshasthaya gets govt approval to import material for coronavirus-detection kit

Gonoshasthaya Kendra today received government approval to import raw material which are needed to make the coronavirus-detection kit that was developed by the organisation.

The approval to import raw materials was given by the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA).

Raw materials for the kit -- Rapid Dot Blot -- will reach Bangladesh from the UK in a week, Dr Zafrullah told The Daily Star.

Sabrina Alam, the drug superintend of DGDA, said a meeting was held in this regard and a no objection certificate to import nine reagents needed to make the testing kit was given to the organisation.

However, even after import of the raw materials and making the testing kits, Gonoshasthaya Kendra will have to send the kits to DGDA. The DGDA will then send it to the World Health Organization for approval, said Sabrina Alam.

DGDA authorities have also written to the Health Ministry today regarding approval of rapid testing kits for coronavirus.

Many companies have by now applied for import of rapid testing kits for coronavirus and authorities have also sought further directions regarding this.

A team of Gonoshasthaya-RNA Biotech Limited, a sister concern of Gonoshasthaya Kendra, claims to have developed the kit that can detect novel coronavirus infection in 15 minutes.

"Each kit would cost only Tk 300-350," Dr Zafrullah said yesterday.