Inconsistencies in the collection, testing and delivery of samples from suspected corona patients are not being addressed properly.
Even worse, patients who never sent their samples for lab testing for covid-19, are said to be labelled in test results as positive.
There are many instances of confusing results being given by the lab authorities. For instance, after completion of quarantine period of 14 days tests show that the people quarantined had no virus or negative. However, the same people tested negative were told that they were positive for covid-19.
It is also alleged that the health technologists who are supposed to collect specimens for lab testing, on many occasions avoid collecting specimens themselves and instead ask suspected patients to do the job for them ignoring possible mishandling in proper specimen collection.
In addition, the Directorate of Health Services has arranged sending tube containers for urine specimen collection but allegations say that urine collection is not taking place due to lack of monitoring.
According to a research, although corona virus has spread in most parts of the country, but many of the patients are not transmitting the disease.
Due to lack of manpower, people suspected of carrying the virus, are remaining out of the reach of covid-19 testing.
Contacted, Habibur Rahman Khan, additional secretary (Administration) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, claimed that he had not yet received any such complaint. “If specific allegations are found, we will instruct the concerned authorities or persons to take proper measures,” said Rahman.
Health technologist Gautam Andro, who works in Habiganj, said that though there were four technologists posted in the district, but he is the only one carrying out duties.
Out of the rest, one of them is staying in Dhaka for his higher education, another is undergoing treatment for Covid-19 and the fourth one is in quarantine. He mentioned that there should be at least 20 posts of health technologists in a district.
A doctor at the national heart institute and hospital said that he had noticed health technologists in many of the city state run hospitals asking others to collect specimens for covid-19 tests standing outside in the lobby of the hospitals.
Several medical technologists in Kumilla, who did not want to be named, said that they were given a swab stick wrapped in papers to collect samples and a smaller urine collection tube to store them. Strange types of face masks have been given for safety. They said the stick was too big to fit in the tube. As a result, the sample cannot be stored properly.
An Assistant Professor of Virology Department of Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College, said, "I can mention about at least 10 people who found out that they are covid-19 positive 8-10 days after giving their specimens. The most alarming thing is that many people are not being given any kind of report in paper or sent through SMS on mobile. In majorities of the cases results are sent reportedly on phone.
Professor Kamrul Hasan Khan, a former Vice Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University said that proper monitoring needs to be done on whether samples are being collected properly, whether PCR (polymer chain re-action) machines are being operated properly. Accurate results cannot be obtained if samples are not collected in the right procedures. The whole process will be questioned if these are ignored.