AP fixed Rs 2,900 cost per COVID test for ICMR approved private labs

Amaravati: The government of Andhra Pradesh has laid down a set of guidelines for private labs testing COVID suspects. The state has fixed a rate of Rs 2,900 per test, for ICMR approved National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) testing for Coronavirus.

In a government order issued on June 12th, the state said, “In view of the large number of foreign returnees and other migrants to the state, the government hereby encourages private NABL labs to apply for ICMR for getting recognized to conduct COVID-19 tests. Also already approved labs can start conducting tests only after obtaining permission from the AP government”.

Following the ICMR order, the government fixed the rates as RS 2,400 for samples sent by the government. While test cost for individuals approaching NABL labs for COVID testing is fixed at Rs 2,900. The government has highlights that prices (mention above are subjected to change).

The guidelines comes with a rider that, One pool sample consist of 5 individuals samples, if any pool is found to be positive, the same batch has to be tested individually and payment will be given treating them as individual samples apart from payment to pooled sample.

Guidelines:

1.Private NABL & ICMR approved labs should appoint a nodal officer from their side.

2. The officer should accept the samples sent by the government as and when required and should update the results of the COVID testing ( both government and private samples ) in ICMR and state portals on daily bases.

3. The fixed rates are not applicable to private labs with whom there is a separate agreement with government.

4. ICMR approved labs testing COVID-19 suspects should maintain confidentiality and preserve the RTPCR machine generated data. And the same should be updated in the portal.

5. The approved labs ‘must display the rate card’ in a visible manner.