As the cases of coronavirus witness a surge all across the country, Maharashtra is said to introduce a price cap for antibody testing in private laboratories. Doctor Pradeep Vyas, Secretary of Health, on Thursday, July 9, 2020, speaking to the media stated that a committee is to be formulated in order to introduce the capping.
On June 23, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) had authorized a notification which permitted health workers and those in living containment zones as well as the others working in offices and public sector units to undergo IgG antibody test.
This IgG antibody test has been designed to detect antibodies that fight against the coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19. Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system in response to an infection and are specific to that particular infection. They are found in the blood and require a sample to be taken from your arm in order for it to be detected. These antibodies have been proven to be useful in the fight against the coronavirus which further led to the CM Uddhav Thackeray launching “Project Platina” which is touted to create an infrastructure for plasma therapy to take place across the state of Maharashtra.
While Thyrocare is charging ₹600 for an antibody test, Suburban Diagnostics is charging ₹950 for individuals who visit the lab and ₹1,450 for home testing. SRL Diagnostics, which began testing on Thursday, is charging ₹1,400 for the IgG antibody test and ₹950 for a total antibody test.
Even though the Union Health Ministry has not capped the prices for the antibody testing so far, several people returning to their offices, or the ones working in salons or the hotel industry have asked for an antibody test in order for them to comprehend if they have been exposed to the coronavirus and have developed the necessary immunity.
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