Govt. slashes RT-PCR rates for early detection of COVID-19

Now Rs. 1,600 per test in Private Laboratories; Rs. 1,200 for samples sent by Govt. to Private Labs

Bengaluru: In a bid to encourage more and more people to undergo test for early detection of COVID-19, the State Government has put a ceiling rate for RT-PCR testing in private laboratories including screening test and confirmatory test at Rs. 1,600 per test inclusive of the cost of PPE kit. Earlier it was Rs. 2,500 for  private samples in private laboratories.

In a press release here, Jawaid Akhtar, Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Health and Family Welfare Department, said as the rates of RT-PCR reagents have come down, the Task Force Committee has now considered the issue of re-fixation of rates for RT-PCR to be charged by the private laboratories and has ordered to re-fix the rate of COVID-19. 

Accordingly, the rate of RT-PCR testing for the samples sent by Government in private laboratories including screening test and confirmatory test is Rs. 1,200 per test inclusive of the cost of PPE kit. Earlier, it was Rs. 1,500 per test. 

It may be mentioned here that the State Government has cut the rate for RT-PCR by about 40-45 per cent in order to encourage more and more population to undergo testing to detect the Coronavirus early as it helps in recovery of patients. 

Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his virtual interaction with the Chief Ministers of seven States which are contributing for 80 per cent of Corona positive cases and deaths, had recommended for more testing by convincing people for early detection of the pandemic. 

Doctors too have opined that getting the test soon after the symptoms will definitely save lives of people. Keeping that in view, the State Government has now reduced the rate for RT-PCR testing across the State with immediate effect.