Concern over testing procedures at public facility.

MIANWALI -- The procedure of taking samples for Covid-19 from visitors at a testing facility at the Mianwali District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital has drawn criticism from health experts as well as the public.

The facility offers a free coronavirus test facility to the public.

This correspondent visited the test centre and saw a young doctor using a single stick to get oropharynx swabs from the throat and then nasopharynx swab from nose. When asked why separate sticks were not being used, the doctor said they were following SOPs. The staff, however, could not produce the copy of SOPs.

Some people present at the centre told the doctor that they had reservations on the testing procedures as most of the samples tested positive for Covid-19.

Senior DHQ pathologist Dr Shaukat Zaman Malik said he was surprised to know about the usage of one stick for throat and nose swabs. He said that hehad never been consulted for tests but now he would inquire about the practice.

Later, he said the procedure adopted there was notideal.

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