Owing to the rising threat of coronavirus in India, the government allowed testing for the infection through a number of private facilities. However, to qualify for testing, private labs need to possess the following:
- All such labs must have a National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration certification when it comes to conducting real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for RNA virus.
- Possess the necessary labour to collect samples from the suspected victim’s home to prevent the risk of contamination.
Apart from these requirements, private labs must also strictly follow the guidelines laid down by the Indian Council of Medical Research or ICMR. This body has already set a cap on COVID-19 testing, along with enumerating the correct way of handling both positive and negative samples.
Under the guidelines, the initial screening test cannot cost more than Rs.1500 to suspected patients. The confirmation test, on the other hand, must not exceed the pricing of Rs.3000.
Further, all positive samples will need to be transported to the National Institute of Virology in Pune after taking proper bio-safety and bio-precautionary measures. On the other hand, as per ICMR guidelines, private testing labs will need to destroy all negative samples within a week from their collection.
As of March 24th, the ICMR approved 16 diagnostic lab chains to collect and test for coronavirus. These chains combined run more than 15000 such facilities across the country. (1)
Thus, if you suspect COVID-19 infection, ensure that you find out the closest private or government facility offering authorised testing facilities. Contact these centres over the phone and ask for sample collection. However, make sure you consult a physician before reaching out to labs, as a written prescription from a qualified doctor is mandatory to undergo such tests.