Health ministry to allow accredited private labs to conduct tests for coronavirus

New Delhi: Amid burgeoning cases of the novel coronavirus and the demand for more testing centres, the Centre has now allowed accredited private labs to conduct tests for COVID-19. Media reports stated that 50-60 private labs, accredited by the National Board of Accreditation for laboratories will be allowed to conduct the test.

Currently, only government-run labs are permitted to conduct the test. Although their capacity is 5,000 samples per day but only 60-70 samples are being tested. As per the government’s advisory, only symptomatic cases with a travel history to abroad or those in direct contact with an affected individual are being tested.

Indian Council Medical Research (ICMR), Director General, Balram Bhargava told media outlets that charges for COVID-19 tests in private labs are being worked out. The government spends Rs 6,000-Rs 6,500 for the screening of patients and around Rs 4,500 for re-confirmation tests. While the private labs will charge a whopping amount of Rs 9,000-Rs 12,000.