Diagnostic laboratories say the capping of RT-PCR rates by state governments will make their business unviable and could lead to a reduction in their testing capacities.
The reactions came in the wake of the Maharashtra government’s announcement on Wednesday to cap the minimum rate of RT-PCR test at Rs 500 and rapid antigen test at Rs 150.
“It is an extremely challenging situation for the private labs. Such low level of price capping makes routine operations of a lab strenuous. We urge the government to have discussions with the private labs on the actual cost of running a test and