As Coronavirus Cases Rise, Government Allows Accredited Private Laboratories To Conduct Test For COVID-19

In a bid to add further muscle to the nation's fight to contain the spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Government of India has decided to allow accredited private laboratories to test for COVID-19, reports Times of India.

As per the information shared by the Director-General (DG) of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Dr Balram Bhargava, with the Government's decision, nearly 50-60 private laboratories accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Laboratories can now conduct the testing for COVID-19, which at present only the government labs are permitted to do.

The government labs have a capacity of testing around 5,000 samples a day, however, only 60-70 samples are being processed daily due to the current guidelines that allow testing only for symptomatic individuals with travel histories to affected countries.

When asked about whether those who are symptomatic but do not fit the current criteria can also be tested, Dr Bhargava said, “All those who require testing will be tested”.

Dr Bhargava further said that the charges for COVID-19 tests in private laboratories and the other relevant modalities for reportage of positive cases were being worked out.

The ICMR has a network of 106 Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratories spread across the nation.

Meanwhile, the number of confirmed positive cases of Coronavirus in India has surged to 125, reports Times of India.