Karnataka has roped in private labs for faster turnaround of Covid-19 tests.

“The State government plans to screen all international and domestic air passengers and inter-state rail passengers on arrival,” said an order issued by Commissioner Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Services.

It said a meeting with various private labs on their capacity and readiness to collect swabs and test RT-PCR for Covid-19 was held private labs were assigned to various categories of passengers.

As per the order, Xcyton Diagnostics will handle all international and domestic air passengers. All inter-state rail passengers will be tested by Neuberg Anand Reference Lab, Cancyte Technologies, Aster Lab, Narayana Hrudayalaya Lab, Vydehi Hospital and Lab, Syngene International.

They will collect samples at airport, railways station, hotel as per prevalent government policy. Testing by RT-PCR method as per ICMR guidelines and communicate the report to passengers and to the State nodal officer.

The note from Commissioner said “The sample will be tested by pooling method (5 samples in one pool as per ICMR guidelines). Each traveller will be charged ₹650 per test by the private lab.”

The order further said airport authorities, railways are to provide necessary space for setting up collection kiosks, free of cost. Nodal officers have been appointed for each category of passengers. They will be responsible for the establishment and operationalsiation of labs and testing methodology and for follow up.

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