Private lab starts coronavirus tests for ₹4,500 in Delhi, NCR
Diagnostic services provider Dr Lal PathLabs has started conducting coronavirus tests. Talking to Livemint, one of the sample centre, confirmed the news. The pathology has started conducting tests for the deadly COVID-19. The suspected patient need to show doctor’s prescription for the same. Right now, only home collection facility is available. The charge for the coronovirus test is ₹4,500 and the report will be available in 2 days.
On the development, Dr Lal PathLabs CEO and whole time director Om Manchanda told PTI, “Our main lab in Rohini, Delhi has been selected for testing. Currently, we are in the process of ordering kits. Once the vendors are in a position to supply larger quantity then only large scale testing can start. Though we have started collecting samples but we have only very few kits in stock as of now.”
As many as 12 private diagnostic chains across six states have got approval from the government to test coronavirus (COVID-19) samples, union ministry of health and family welfare had said on Monday. From the 12 approved laboratories, five are in Maharashtra, which has the highest number of COVID-19 cases. Remaining facilities are spread across Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Earlier, the Centre had issued guidelines recommending that maximum rate for coronavirus tests by private laboratories should not be more than ₹4,500 while appealing for free or subsidised testing in this hour of national public health emergency. The ICMR guidelines recommended that the maximum cost for testing sample should not exceed ₹4,500. This may include ₹1,500 as a screening test for suspect cases and an additional ₹3,000 for confirmation test.
Live Mint
