Maharashtra Govt reduce price of RT-PCR, Antigen tests - Check rates here

The Maharashtra government on Monday, December 6, has reduced the rates of RT-PCR tests conducted at private laboratories.

Health Minister Rajesh Tope said that INR 500 will be charged for the tests conducted at laboratories in hospitals, COVID-19 care centres and quarantine centres. Earlier it was charged INR 600 for the same.

While a charge of INR 700 will be applicable if a sample is collected from home. All charges including for the PPE would be borne by the laboratory. Earlier, they charged INR 800 for this.

Besides, or picking of sample from collection site, transport and reporting of sample the rate has been slashed from INR 500 to INR 350 per test. No private laboratory can seek more charges than these.

The public health department also issued a notification on the new rates which will be applicable at all centres, including the airport.

According to reports, this is the sixth time the government has reduced the price of coronavirus tests since June 2020.

From INR 4,500 initially, the price of RT-PCR was lowered to INR 1,600 in September, INR 850 in December and now to INR 500. The rate for bulk testing by government agencies has been fixed at INR 350, a reduction from INR 500.

Apart from these, rates have been fixed for rapid antigen and antibody tests. These rates will be charged based on three categories, namely, if the patient comes to the laboratory himself, takes samples from the examination center or collectively, and goes to the patient's home to take samples.

Rates for antibodies, ELISA for SARS COVID tests will be INR 200, INR 250 and INR 350 respectively depending on the categories. The rates for CLIA for SARS COVID antibodies test are INR 300, INR 400, INR 500 respectively.