A report on coronavirus (COVID-19) testing kits highlights a critical situation in Pakistan as it has been stated&nbsp;that the majority of the virus testing is apparently inaccurate. The testing kits imported by the country were of substandard quality.

A Pakistan-based media newspaper The Express Tribune reported citing a health expert that nearly 80 per cent of imported testing kits were of substandard quality and showed discrepancies in the results.&nbsp;

Also, the results of low-quality kits used by most health facilities in the country are 50 per cent accurate, the report said.&nbsp;

The newspaper highlighted the point that Pakistan is yet to form a uniform policy for the diagnosis of various infections including coronavirus.&nbsp;

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Dr Saeed Khan, Professor of Pathology at Dow University Ojha campus talked about the&nbsp;types of kits that are currently being used in the country for Covid testing, which are automatic, semi-automatic and manual.

Human involvement is not needed in fully automatic kits, whereas the semi-automatic ones involve the use of human hands.&nbsp;

"If the technician has obtained the patient's sample with expertise and applied it for testing through the automated kit, then the results are perfectly accurate," he said as quoted by the newspaper.&nbsp;

He also talked about the handling of the testing kits, he said that the samples must be kept at a required temperature. "If a patient's sample is taken and placed in the sunlight or in a warm place, the results will be radically different," Dr Khan added.&nbsp;

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He said that while some large hospitals in the country are administering US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved, high-quality testing kits, smaller laboratories have resorted to using unreliable, cheaper kits.

As per the report, Pakistan has imported Covid diagnostic kits from China, Turkey, the US and several European countries.

Dr Khan recommended stricter testing regulations to stop the use of non-FDA approved kits, as well as a uniform national policy on the diagnosis of infectious diseases.&nbsp;

Pakistan shattered previous records on Friday (January 21), when the country reported the highest number of new daily cases since the pandemic began in early 2020.&nbsp;

The country reported 7,678 new coronavirus cases during the last 24 hours — the highest number of cases since the pandemic began in Feb 2020.

WATCH:&nbsp;COVID-19 cases continue to soar with each passing day

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(With inputs from agencies)

A report on coronavirus (COVID-19) testing kits highlights a critical situation in Pakistan as it has been stated that the majority of the virus testing is apparently inaccurate.

A report on coronavirus (COVID-19) testing kits highlights a critical situation in Pakistan as it has been stated that the majority of the virus testing is apparently inaccurate. The testing kits imported by the country were of substandard quality. A Pakistan-based media newspaper The Express Tribune reported citing a health expert that nearly 80 per cent of imported testing kits were of substandard quality and showed discrepancies in the results. Also, the results of low-quality kits used by most health facilities in the country are 50 per cent accurate, the report said. The newspaper highlighted the point that Pakistan is yet to form a uniform policy for the diagnosis of various infections including coronavirus. ALSO READ | Will COVID-19 start diminishing in 2022 or the world will see new variants? Dr Saeed Khan, Professor of Pathology at Dow University Ojha campus talked about the types of kits that are currently being used in the country for Covid testing, which are automatic, semi-automatic and manual. Human involvement is not needed in fully automatic kits, whereas the semi-automatic ones involve the use of human hands. "If the technician has obtained the patient's sample with expertise and applied it for testing through the automated kit, then the results are perfectly accurate," he said as quoted by the newspaper. He also talked about the handling of the testing kits, he said that the samples must be kept at a required temperature. "If a patient's sample is taken and placed in the sunlight or in a warm place, the results will be radically different," Dr Khan added. ALSO READ | Rio de Janeiro postpones Carnival parades as Omicron cases spike He said that while some large hospitals in the country are administering US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved, high-quality testing kits, smaller laboratories have resorted to using unreliable, cheaper kits. As per the report, Pakistan has imported Covid diagnostic kits from China, Turkey, the US and several European countries. Dr Khan recommended stricter testing regulations to stop the use of non-FDA approved kits, as well as a uniform national policy on the diagnosis of infectious diseases. Pakistan shattered previous records on Friday (January 21), when the country reported the highest number of new daily cases since the pandemic began in early 2020. The country reported 7,678 new coronavirus cases during the last 24 hours — the highest number of cases since the pandemic began in Feb 2020. WATCH: COVID-19 cases continue to soar with each passing day × (With inputs from agencies)

Pakistan using 80% of COVID-19 testing kits of substandard quality: Report

In what comes as worrying news for Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand, three more members of the Pakistan cricket team have tested positive for COVID-19 in New Zealand, taking the total number of cases to 10. As many as 46 members of Pakistan’s visiting contingent were tested for COVID-19.

Pakistan are already on a final warning after breaching the strict quarantine restrictions with their training and preparations have also been affected with cases increasing. The Pakistan cricket team is in New Zealand for three T20Is and two Tests starting December 18.

The Pakistan team is not allowed to train until the Canterbury DHB medical officer of health determines they are satisfied that any training activities are unlikely to transmit COVID-19.

The 24-member Pakistan squad was affected early with the exclusion of Fakhar Zaman before the departure due to persistent fever. The players arrived in New Zealand on November 24 and were accompanied by 20 officials. They stayed put in a mandatory 14-day quarantine period at the Hilton Hotel.

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Earlier, New Zealand’s director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield had lashed out at Pakistan for not respecting the protocols by the authorities.&nbsp;

"The team as a whole has been issued with a final warning. It is a privilege to come to New Zealand to play sport, but in return, teams must stick to the rules that are designed to keep COVID-19 out of our communities and keep our staff safe," said top health official Ashley Bloomfield.

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"Not being able to train is not a punishment, that was a requirement anyway for the first three days. Looking at Day 3 test results and CCTV footage, we will have to make a judgment on if or when they may be allowed to be exempt from the arrangement everyone else has to undertake, so they're allowed to break off in bubbles and train. I take a dim view of what we've seen already and we'll take it really seriously."&nbsp;

The names of the members of the Pakistan squad, who tested positive for COVID-19, were not revealed.

In what comes as worrying news for Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand, three more members of the Pakistan cricket team have tested positive for COVID-19 in New Zealand, taking the total number of cases to 10.

In what comes as worrying news for Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand, three more members of the Pakistan cricket team have tested positive for COVID-19 in New Zealand, taking the total number of cases to 10. As many as 46 members of Pakistan’s visiting contingent were tested for COVID-19. Pakistan are already on a final warning after breaching the strict quarantine restrictions with their training and preparations have also been affected with cases increasing. The Pakistan cricket team is in New Zealand for three T20Is and two Tests starting December 18. The Pakistan team is not allowed to train until the Canterbury DHB medical officer of health determines they are satisfied that any training activities are unlikely to transmit COVID-19. The 24-member Pakistan squad was affected early with the exclusion of Fakhar Zaman before the departure due to persistent fever. The players arrived in New Zealand on November 24 and were accompanied by 20 officials. They stayed put in a mandatory 14-day quarantine period at the Hilton Hotel. ALSO READ: Exclusive | Australia looking a cut above Indian team: John Buchanan Earlier, New Zealand’s director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield had lashed out at Pakistan for not respecting the protocols by the authorities. "The team as a whole has been issued with a final warning. It is a privilege to come to New Zealand to play sport, but in return, teams must stick to the rules that are designed to keep COVID-19 out of our communities and keep our staff safe," said top health official Ashley Bloomfield. ALSO READ: Virat Kohli on verge of breaking major record held by Sachin Tendulkar "Not being able to train is not a punishment, that was a requirement anyway for the first three days. Looking at Day 3 test results and CCTV footage, we will have to make a judgment on if or when they may be allowed to be exempt from the arrangement everyone else has to undertake, so they're allowed to break off in bubbles and train. I take a dim view of what we've seen already and we'll take it really seriously." The names of the members of the Pakistan squad, who tested positive for COVID-19, were not revealed.

Three more members of Pakistan team test positive for COVID-19 as NZ tour hangs in balance

Pakistan registered 488 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 289,213, the health ministry said on Monday.

The death toll reached 6,175 with seven more fatalities reported overnight.

While 269,087 coronavirus patients have recovered so far, 771 others are in critical condition, the ministry said.

With the detection of the 488 new cases, Pakistan's coronavirus tally now stands at 289,213, it said.

Sindh reported the maximum number of 126,182 cases, followed by Punjab at 95,447, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa at 35,215, Islamabad at 15,390, Balochistan at 12,295, Gilgit-Baltistan at 2,502 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) at 2,184 cases.

Health authorities have so far conducted 2,299,602 tests, including 22,448 in the last 24 hours, to detect the viral infection, the ministry said.

Pakistan registered 488 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 289,213, the health ministry said on Monday. The death toll reached 6,175 with seven more fatalities reported overnight.

Pakistan registered 488 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 289,213, the health ministry said on Monday. The death toll reached 6,175 with seven more fatalities reported overnight. While 269,087 coronavirus patients have recovered so far, 771 others are in critical condition, the ministry said. With the detection of the 488 new cases, Pakistan's coronavirus tally now stands at 289,213, it said. Sindh reported the maximum number of 126,182 cases, followed by Punjab at 95,447, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa at 35,215, Islamabad at 15,390, Balochistan at 12,295, Gilgit-Baltistan at 2,502 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) at 2,184 cases. Health authorities have so far conducted 2,299,602 tests, including 22,448 in the last 24 hours, to detect the viral infection, the ministry said.

Pakistan registers 488 new coronavirus cases; tally reaches 289,213

Pakistan has registered its highest single-day spike of coronavirus cases with over 5,000 infections in the last 24 hours

COVID-19: Pak PM Imran Khan backtracks on his statement over pandemic

Pakistan on Saturday began easing the month-long lockdown despite a steady rise in the number of the coronavirus cases which rose to 27,474.

Pakistan eases lockdown even as COVID-19 cases continue to rise