Private labs start Covid-19 testing amid stringent regulations

With the Central government allowing 51 private laboratories to conduct Covid-19 tests across the country, stringent regulations have been put in place to make sure that only those who need it take the test. Sources in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) said that one of the primary challenges that it had to tackle before giving private laboratories the permission to do Covid-19 tests was to make sure that people did not go for the tests just because they had the resources, but no symptoms or travel history. One of the main reasons behind this is to make sure that Covid-19 test kits are not spent on those who do not need it. “We have made it very stringent for anyone who wants to take the test at these private laboratories. First, he/she has to submit a duly signed Form 44 along with the signed and stamped doctor’s medical advice in which it has to be clearly mentioned that symptoms of Covid-19 are present in the patient. Then only the laboratories, after taking a photocopy of the identification card of the patient, can do the test. These details, including the doctor’s name and prescription, along with the test result, will then be sent to the ICMR for collating the data at the Central level,” an official source in MOHFW said.

Form 44 is a form to undertake clinical trials given out by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation under the Directorate General of Health Services of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

In Delhi, eight private laboratories have been given the permission to do these tests.

The Sunday Guardian spoke to officials at all these laboratories and all of these laboratories said that a valid, signed and stamped doctor’s prescription was needed along