Praava Health starts testing for Covid-19

Praava Health's PCR lab has recently received official permission for Covid-19 testing from the Bangladesh government. Praava Health's PCR lab is now processing Covid-19 tests. 

Patients can call Praava's hotline at 10648 or write them on WhatsApp at 01886555200 to book a testing appointment. 

To ensure patient safety and reduce further transmission of the novel coronavirus, Praava's mobile phlebotomists – in full personal protective equipment (PPE) – will collect nasopharyngeal samples (by nasal swab) at patients' homes, for testing, and the samples will be processed at Praava's state-of-the-art PCR lab. 

Patients suspected of having Covid-19 will not enter Praava Health's facility to provide samples. Test results will be delivered via Praava's mobile app and also by email. 

"We know that things have been difficult during this pandemic and how difficult it has been to get tested for Covid-19," said Sylvana Q. Sinha, Praava Health's founder, chairman and CEO. 

"We are really pleased to be able to serve our patients and contribute to the overall testing needs of our country during these trying times, and we are grateful to our government for permitting us to be a part of this initiative," she continued.

The healthcare provider has taken extensive preventive measures to maintain the safety of their patients and staff.

First, the teams that will be doing home sample collection for Covid-19 testing will maintain strict clinical protocols – including wearing full PPE and other protective measures. They will also be checked for symptoms, daily, to ensure that they are healthy before they go to patients' homes.

Second, the teams that will collect home samples for Covid-19 tests are separate from the teams collecting home samples for other routine tests. This means that the team that goes to patients' houses for sample collection for non-Covid-19 tests is not regularly exposed to the novel coronavirus or anyone infected with it.