HYDERABAD: As many as 107 out of 177 samples collected in Pir Jo Goth, Khairpur, for coronavirus re-test, were found to be negative for the contagion by a private laboratory of Karachi on Thursday.

According to official sources, so far results of 152 out of 177 samples had been received and 107 were among them. However, 45 were found to be positive for the virus, said the officials.

All the samples were collected on chief minister’s directives after doubts were raised over authenticity of government laboratories’ test results by a leader of Grand Democratic Alliance and MPA from Pir Jo Goth whose tests by government private labs showed stark differences.

The MPA tested positive according to his test report by Diagnostic and Research Laboratory of Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences but when he opted for a second at a private lab in Karachi, he tested negative for the virus.

The controversy was triggered when health authorities collected 316 samples in Pir Jo Goth on May 7 after the burial of a suspected Covid-19 patient and found 250 to be positive for the virus, including the MPA. The suspected patient’s family had claimed she was not a Covid-19 patient.

“People among the 316 who had earlier volunteered for tests were not willing to come forward again for the re-test,” said a health official, adding the results of 35 samples were also awaited.

GDA leaders questioned authenticity of government run laboratories’ reports and believed either the kits being used by them were unreliable or they did not show accurate results.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2020

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.