The government go-ahead for antibody test to assess the presence of immune response in human blood to fight covid-19 appears to have gone astray while inoculation groping for right track.
Such observations are inferred from the fact that eight months have elapsed sans a start since the government nod was given to such a matter of public-health emergency on a global scale.
The inordinate delay launching antibody or serology test affects overall coronavirus vaccination management as the authorities are still unaware of who has low immune response and needs the antidote most.
Following longstanding demand from healthcare professionals, Health Minister Dr Zahid Maleque, on January 24, 2021, said that the government approved the special medical screening here and "it will be effective from today".
But all to no effect it seems, so far. Even the health ministry last February issued letter to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) for feasibility study of the test in public hospitals.
When contacted, DGHS director (hospitals and clinics) Dr Md. Farid Hossain Miah said antibody test is allowed here only for research purposes-there is no permission for the test in individual usage.
"There is no scientific explanation that people having immune response cannot be vaccinated. Yeah, it is important but not that much," he added.
Seeking anonymity, another DGHS official said the health minister made the verbal permission but it was not officially approved to follow through.
However, the health minister could not be reached even after repeated efforts over the phone.
Antibody tests can detect if a person had been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus or covid-19 in the past and developed a possible immune response to the virus.
For months, there had been strong recommendations made from the National Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) on covid-19 for introducing both antigen and antibody-based rapid testing for covid infection and immunity detections.
Health-rights activist Dr Rashid-e-Mahbub, who was very vocal about the test from the beginning of the pandemic outbreaks, expressed his dissatisfaction over no progress in initiating the test.
He said antibody test is very important in the context of proper covid-19 vaccination management because it gives proper reading about the levels of antibodies in human body.
"Those who have enough antibodies to fight the virus do not need the vaccine. But, unfortunately, we did not start it and kept administering antidotes to people without knowing their immune levels. By doing so we probably misuse some portion of the (much-needed) vaccines," he said.
Mr Mahbub, former president of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA), suggests that the authorities immediately check whether the process gets stuck and take required steps to kick-start the test as quick as possible.
