Pvt lab to conduct swine flu test for Rs.4,000

16 August 2009

New Delhi: Private diagnostic network Super Religare Laboratories (SRL) said here Friday that it is ready to conduct swine flu tests at Rs.4,000, while the government claims it spends nearly Rs.10,000 for testing a swine flu patient's sample.

"We are fully prepared for the screening of H1N1 in all our laboratories in the country and are only waiting for the green signal from the government. We have lowered our prices as we see this as an opportunity to serve the nation," said Sanjeev K. Chaudhry, chief executive of Super Religare Laboratories.

"We have adequate amount of testing kits available with us with a team of renowned doctors at both Mumbai and Gurgaon," he said.

Chaudhry added that some of the doctors with SRL have gone through an orientation programme at the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in New Delhi.

Ashok Rattan, advisor to SRL diagnostic network, told IANS: "We are ready with all facilities to help people. We are in touch with the health ministry. Once the government gives us a go ahead, we will accept swine flu samples. We have fixed the cost at Rs.4000 per test."

"We will take all precautions. We have also requested the government to give us some Tamiflu tablets so that we can use them if our technicians need it at any moment due to exposure to the virus," Rattan added.

At present, SRL has about 1,000 swine flu testing kits available with it at the Mumbai and Gurgaon centres.

At the orientation programme, private labs were informed about the guidelines to be followed while conducting the tests, how to handle the transportation of samples, how to wear the mask, the goggles, the cap and other logistics relating to testing samples for swine flu