Gonoshasthaya sends 200 kits for trial

Gonoshasthaya Kendra yesterday supplied 200 locally-made rapid test kits to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) for performance trial.

Dr Bijon Kumar Sil, the lead researcher of Gonoshasthaya Pharmaceuticals, and Dr Mohibullah Khandakar, vice-principal of Gonoshasthaya Samaj Vittik Medical College, submitted the kits to the BSMMU around 11:00am.

Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, founder and trustee of Gonoshasthaya Kendra, said, "The BSMMU asked for 400 kits; 200 in each of two phases. We will provide them with the rest of the 200 kits whenever they ask for."

Earlier on Tuesday afternoon, Gonoshasthaya received a letter from the BSMMU, seeking supply of the kits and a deposit of Tk 435,000 as fees for the tests.

"We hope the BSMMU will complete the tests and prepare the report in a week. Then we will have to get permission from the Directorate General of Drug Administration for marketing the kits. The drug administration is not supposed to take more than a week for granting the approval," Zafrullah said.

He said they would go for mass production of the kit named Rapid Dot Blot after having the approval. "We are eagerly waiting for that day. Large scale tests on people for novel coronavirus is extremely important to prevent its spread."

The veteran physician said the kit, developed by the Gonoshasthaya Kendra scientists, can test both antibody and antigen in blood. It has an accuracy rate of over 90 percent, which is close to those of RT-PCR machines being used by Bangladesh for Covid-19 testing, said Zafrullah.

"We had urged the authorities to test our kit at the earliest because this is an emergency situation. But that has not happened," he said.

After manufacturing kits at its factory in Savar, Gonoshasthaya on April 26 approached the DGDA for validation of the kit. The DGDA, however, suggested it to go through the contract research organisations (CROs).

Gonoshasthaya, however, refused to comply with it, arguing that CROs became a vehicle for corruption and the process would raise the price of the kit.

On April 30, the DGDA permitted Gonoshasthaya Kendra to have their kits independently validated by the BSMMU.

Two days later, the BSMMU formed a committee, headed by Prof Dr Shahina Tabassum of its virology department.

After preparing a protocol, the BSMMU was supposed to write a letter to Gonoshasthaya on May 10. But it was issued on Tuesday.

Zafrullah expressed optimism that they would get the DGDA's approval after smooth testing of the kit.