PCR test at Chaurjahari not working, problem in test

Kathmandu - A PCR test kit sent by Karnali State government at Chaurjahari lab of Rukum (West) for COVID-19 test has become dysfunctional. The Health Service Directorate under the State had sent a kit with a capacity to test 500 swabs every day. The kit has been kept in a corner of the lab after it became useless.

The Directorate had also sent extraction kit along with the PCR kit on August 19. Health Joint-Coordinator of Chaurjahari municipality, Danda Prasad Sharma, said that the kit has not been able to give result of PCR test. Before this, the Directorate had sent the kit at Karnali Academy of Health Sciences, Jumla, and Dailekh lab, it is learnt. Sharma said that the kit was sent at Chaurjahari lab after the kit sent in Jumla and Dailekh was sent back after it did not work.

Preparation has been made to send back the kit at the Directorate. The lab has already informed about it. However, the Directorate has claimed that the kit is in good condition and it works. Directorate said the kit has not become dysfunctional, but PCR machine and kit might have not matched with each other. Director at the Directorate, Rita Bhandari, said that they have received the information about the kit and have asked the lab to send the kit back.