The approval was given on September 17 in a letter signed by Dr Bilkis Begum, deputy secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family welfare.

Following the recommendation of the Director General of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and the World Health Organization's September 11 `interim guidance', permission was granted to introduce antigen-based tests in all government medical college hospitals, district hospitals, government PCR labs and all health institutes in the country for Covid-19 test in a very short time, the letter reads.

However, for the purpose of verification and selection, it is necessary to follow the Covid-19 Lab Expansion Policy, which is being processed by the DGHS, once it is finalised.

The letter said the order would take into effect immediately.

Meanwhile, on September 17, the National Advisory Committee on Covid-19 also recommended the introduction of antigen and antibody tests in addition to the PCR test.