Fertility clinics’ Covid test rip-off

Couples charged up to £400 for virus check

COUPLES desperate for a baby are being charged up to £400 for coronavirus tests, prompting the fertility regulator to send a warning to IVF clinics.

Private clinics have previously been criticised for billing couples for thousands of pounds of ‘addon’ fertility treatments.

Now, as the clinics start to reopen, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has heard that patients are being asked to pay up to £400 for coronavirus tests. the regulator said it was ‘alarmed’ and chief executive Peter thompson has written to clinics to make it clear that any charges should be ‘reasonable’.

the Daily Mail has not been able to identify the clinic that reportedly quoted £400 for a Covid-19 test, but several operators are openly charging large sums for the simple test, which is available for free on the NHS.

Fertility Plus, based in London’s Harley Street, insists patients have a nose and throat swab and blood test at least once before their procedures. the women’s partners may also need to be tested. the checks cost £150 per person.

Online fertility clinic IVF Matters is selling a £139 test for those with Covid symptoms, or those who have come into contact with an infected person. Both of these groups of patients should be able to get a free test through the NHS’s test and trace service.

Care Fertility, which says it is the UK’s largest fertility clinic, is charging symptom-free patients £150 if they choose to have a test.

the HFEA said: ‘We made it clear that we expect clinics to act responsibly and, if they must charge for these tests, the charges should be reasonable.’ Sarah Norcross, of the Progress Educational trust fertility charity, said: ‘Fertility clinics should not be seeking to profit from the Covid-19 pandemic.

‘there will be some necessary additional costs to fertility treatment because of the need for Covid-19 tests and personal protective equipment for fertility patients prior to starting an IVF cycle, but clinics must not overcharge for such tests.’

Gwenda Burns, of the Fertility Network charity, added: ‘It is paramount patients are supported, and not in anyway exploited.’ Care Fertility is charging £150 for symptom-free people to be tested, and £45 for an antibody blood test to see if they have had it.

Create Fertility is charging £75 for the tests, while the Evewell clinic in London is charging £82.

the HFEA has not told clinics to test people having IVF, although guidance from the British Fertility Society and Association of Reproductive and Clinical Scientists recommends that clinics ‘consider implementing a testing policy as soon as practicable’.

Dr Irfana Koita, director of IVF Matters, said: ‘Our service includes a discussion of the results by our consultant and a donation of £10 to the National Emergencies trust’s Covid emergency appeal.’

Care Fertility said: ‘Covid tests are not compulsory ahead of IVF and we do not insist on in-house testing.’

Create Fertility said: ‘ In situations where patients are unable to use NHS testing, we are providing access to private tests for £75, which is the cost price to us.’

Evewell said it did not make any profit from the tests.

Fertility Plus did not respond to requests for a comment.

‘Don’t profit from the pandemic’