DDGHS concedes shortage of rapid antigen test kits

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Sri Lanka receives only a limited number of rapid antigen test kits, Deputy Director General of Health Services, Dr. Hemantha Herath told The Island yesterday.

Dr. Herath said that they were aware of the shortage of test kits and had instructed hospitals to conduct PCR tests when rapid antigen test kits were not available.

“There is a lot of demand for rapid antigen tests in Sri Lanka but there are only limited quantities,” he said.

Dr. Herath said that most countries in the world now carry out rapid antigen tests and that there isn’t adequate production. “Therefore, Sri Lanka has only been getting limited stocks. The private sector too is having trouble getting enough stocks. However, we are getting stocks continuously,” he said.

On Monday, 8,206 PCR tests and 3,209 rapid antigen tests had been carried out, Dr. Herath said. He added that on Monday Sri Lanka reported over 1,000 COVID cases for the 9th consecutive day.

In late January, College of Medical Laboratory Science (CMLS) President, Ravi Kumudesh told The Island that there was a shortage of rapid antigen test (RAT) kits in state hospitals, and it was not only affecting the detection of COVID cases but also delaying the essential medical procedures including surgeries. At that point the Health Ministry denied that such a shortage existed.