State govt fixes cost for Covid 19 test in pvt labs

Team Udayavani, Apr 17, 2020, 6:28 PM IST

Bengaluru: The state government on Friday, April 17 has fixed Rs 2,250 as the per test cost for Covid-19 samples sent to private laboratories.

A total of 16 laboratories (11 government and 5 private) has been approved by the ICMR for testing samples of Covid 19 suspected cases.

Realising that early detection of coronavirus cases and timely treatment was the need of the hour, meetings were held to rope in more private laboratories to conduct covid 19 sample tests.

The state government in a circular stated few conditions subject to which testing of covid 19 samples could be undertaken at the need to rope in more private laboratories . These include:

1. All protocols as laid down by GOI from time to time shall be followed by the the need to rope in more private laboratories.
2. The private laboratories have to share the lab data pertaining to the diagnosis of covid 19 to state government and ICMR on real time basis.
3. The cost per test (including screening test and confirmatory test) for samples sent by government is fixed at Rs 2250.
4. The state government will not provide any testing kits and other accessories required for the testing.