The district health administration has put a stop to all home collection of respiratory samples for Covid-19 tests across North 24-Parganas. Complaints of used PPEs lying at streetsides are being cited as one of the major reasons that has prompted the decision.

In an order issued on Monday, the office of the chief medical officer has instructed all laboratories and collection centres to adhere to the standard operating procedure and stop home sample collection till a compliance report is received with proper documentation.

The order pointed to three areas in which stricter adherence to SOP was needed — bio-medical waste management during home collection, safety norms during transport of the sample to the testing centres and qualification of laboratory technicians collecting the samples.

“There is a high risk of Covid transmission unless things are done properly. We have no knowledge of the way these people are taking and disposing PPEs or transporting the samples. If the people collecting the samples lack proper training and qualification, they may end up causing injury during swab collection. All these need to be looked into,” said a district health official.

There are eight to 10 laboratories operating in the district which have been intimated about the urgent order. “There is no bar on home collection if they stick to the government guidelines. We are waiting for their reports which we will verify and then give the go-ahead again if we are satisfied,” the official said.

The laboratories can continue with sample collection and Covid tests at their respective collection centres, as before, he explained.

The drive-in swab collection kiosk on Smart Street also continues to be in operation, 8am to 5pm.