Conducting Rapid Antigen Tests at NABL& ICMR Approved Private Labs–Fixation of Rate for conducting COVID–19 Test in Private NABL & ICMR approved Labs – Permission Accorded- Orders

In the reference 1st cited Government have issued orders for fixation

of rates for COVID-19 testing for both Government samples and also for

Private samples, in the ICMR approved Private NABL Labs.

2. In the reference 2nd & 3rd cited, ICMR has authorized the testing of

Rapid Antigen Test kits for identifying the COVID-19 in addition to the

various existing methods and liberalized the testing and generated five

common login credentials for each District of State/ UT, which may be

shared with all Government and private facilities selected for antigen testing

and should nominate a nodal person from the State, who could contact the

ICMR team for obtaining login credentials.

3. As per the ICMR guidelines and keeping in view of the

recommendations of the CEO, YSRAHCT Mangalagiri, in the letter 4th read

above, to ensure that, public have better access to COVID testing and

affordability, Govt. have decided to issue login credentials to as many

Hospitals as possible, specially PHCs, CHCs, AHs, DHs and NABH hospitals

and NABL Labs of Private sector and to fix the costing for the rapid antigen

tests done at the approved Private Hospitals and Labs.

4. Accordingly, Government hereby order to fix the rates for Rapid

Antigen testing for Private samples, in the ICMR approved Private NABH/NAB

Labs, which shall not more than @ Rs. 750/- per test (includes rapid kit cost,

PPE’s, manpower cost) for the patients who approach them for getting

tested. And once result is known, for the ‘Symptomatic’ Negative cases, the

sample should be collected (using VTM) and be sent to the respective tied-

up VRDL Labs for retesting by RT-PCR Machine. The patients shall not be

charged more than @ Rs.2,800/- per sample as per the orders issued in the

G.O. 1st read above. Further, all the institutions which intend to do rapid

antigen tests shall necessarily have tie up with ICMR approved VRDL.