16 pvt labs get Govt nod to test for H1N1

New Delhi: Long queues to give in samples for testing and delays in diagnosis of the H1N1 flu are all going to change for the better. The Government has allowed four private labs in Delhi and the NCR region to test for the H1N1 virus.

Dr Dang's lab, Dr Lal Path labs across Delhi, Auroprobe, and Religare lab in Gurgaon are the first private labs in the Capital to get the go-ahead.

MD Auroprobe, Dr Nimrat Bawa says, "We have a whole procedure for sample collection in place and we have the equipment."

Adds a doctor at Dr Dang's lab, "We have created a totally separate place for the collection. The patients will be going there to give samples and collect reports."

At private labs, it will take about 24-36 hours to get test results. Each of these labs have different centres to collect samples, which will then be sent on to their main reference labs for testing.

But this hassle free testing comes at a cost. While the Government runs the tests for free, private labs will cost you anything between Rs 4,000 to Rs 10,000 per test.

Dr Nimrat Bawa says, "The protective equipment for one person costs about Rs 600 - Rs 700. Secondly reagents are exported, they are expensive and thus the high costs."

Religare labs, however, are offering these tests for Rs 4,500 that is Rs 4,000 less than other labs.

CEO Religare Labs, Dr Sanjeev Chaudhary says, "We have stocked up on a large number of probes, kits and reagents. Our equipment is designed to run huge loads which means that the cost does come down.

A total of 16 private laboratories have been notified to carry out tests in the country. Tamil Nadu has nine labs which will collect samples as well as test them. VMTA lab in Andhra Pradesh and two private labs in Karnataka will help in the crisis.

But with the second wave of the virus expected in the winters, more private labs across the country will have to be roped in to tackle the sheer numbers of those affected by the H1N1 virus.

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