Two private labs to test swine flu in Delhi

New Delhi: Two private labs have been identified for testing the H1N1 virus in the Capital. But it is at a price unlike the free testing at government-run labs. How much is it going to cost you? And will roping in private players actually help lower the government's burden?

“It seems like those who don't have swine flu might get it here. We are at a higher risk of getting infected,” a man outside a government-run hospital said.

Long queues and limited manpower have made H1 N1 tests more difficult. The result – number of samples sent for testing has gone up by 400 per cent in the last week. And it is taking at least 72 hours for government-identified labs to deliver the test reports.

Now two private labs in Delhi – Dr Lal's Path Lab and Dr Dang's lab at Hauz Khas are being inspected as additional testing centres.

“The basic rules are that we should follow the real-time PCR system. And we should be having bio safety level two. We should also have a separate collection area,” Dr Navin Dang explained.

But the convenience of going to a private lab comes at a price.

“It will cost approximately Rs 10,000. And it is mostly because of the raw material that is being used,” Dr Dang added.

And here's why:

First, is the cost of sample collection kits that has the proper swabs. This varies from anywhere between Rs 500-1,000 per sample.

Once samples have reached the lab, the RNA has to be extracted from the virus. This cost varies from Rs 500 to 1,000 per sample.

Then is the cost of real-time PCR to test for five different types of strains with five different chemicals or reagents at Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000.

The equipment required itself to carry out these tests costs about Rs 2 crore.

But there are other concerns as well.

“They (private hospitals) do have some commercial interest in that and that has to be safeguarded. Unnecessary testing should not be done,” Dr Shobha Broor said.

The price of testing is obviously driven up since each test kit has to be imported. However, the Indian Council of Medical Research is now exploring options to develop indigenous kits. This will bring down the costs but that is still some months away.

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