Covid-19: Where can You get Yourself Tested for the Virus in India?
The novel coronavirus is running amok in India, just like the rest of the world. According to recent reports, the disease has claimed the lives of 10 victims in the country, while infecting more than 500 people. Owing to this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a complete national lockdown, starting 00:00 hours on 25th March 2020.
This lockdown will last for 21 days in an effort to eradicate the social transmission of the deadly virus. While this containment procedure is in effect, Indians staying at home should monitor their immediate family members for known symptoms of Covid-19. If you feel that you or anyone in your home is showing signs of the disease, you must consult a doctor immediately.
Your doctor, in turn, will determine whether coronavirus testing is necessary in your case. Still, you cannot just walk into a clinic near you to undergo the said testing, as most labs do not have the necessary infrastructure and clearance to test for the novel coronavirus. Thus, it is vital to know which labs or healthcare centres are offering the said test in your state of residence.
Important: Learn more about the coverages of COVID 19 Insurance Policy
Coronavirus Test Centres & Labs in Different States of India
Andhra Pradesh
- Rangaraya Medical College, Kakinada
- GMC, Anantapur
- Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences, Tirupati
- Sidhartha Medical College, Vijayawada
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- Regional Medical Research Centre, Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar
Assam
- Silchar Medical College, Silchar
- Gauhati Medical College, Gauhati
- Jorhat Medical College, Jorhat
- Regional Medical Research Centre, Dibrugarh
Bihar
- Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna
- All India Institute Medical Sciences, Raipur
- Darbhanga Medical College, Darbhanga
Chhattisgarh
- Late Sri Baliram Kashyap Memorial Govt. Medical College, Jagdalpur
- Command Hospital, Udhampur
Delhi
- All India Institute Medical Sciences, Delhi
- Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi
- National Centre of Disease Control, New Delhi
- Army Hospital (R&R), New Delhi
Gujarat
- M.P. Shah Government Medical College, Jamnagar
- BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad
Haryana
- BPS Govt Medical College, Sonipat
- Pt. B.D. Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana
Himachal Pradesh
- Dr. Rajendra Prasad Govt. Medical College, Kangra, Tanda, Himachal Pradesh
- Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
Jammu and Kashmir
- Government Medical College, Srinagar
- Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar
- Government Medical College, Jammu
Jharkhand
- MGM Medical College, Jamshedpur
Karnataka
- Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences, Hassan, Karnataka
- National Institute of Virology Field Unit, Bangalore
- Bangalore Medical College & Research Institute, Bangalore
- Command Hospital, Bangalore
- Shimoga Inst. of Med. Sciences, Shivamogga, Karnataka
- Mysore Medical College & Research Institute, Mysore
Kerala
- Govt. Medical College, Thrissur, Kerala
- Govt. Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
- National Institute of Virology Field Unit, Kerala
- Govt. Medical College, Kozhikode, Kerala
Madhya Pradesh
- National Institute of Research in Tribal Health (NIRTH), Jabalpur
- All India Institute Medical Sciences, Bhopal
Maharashtra
- NIV Mumbai Unit
- Indira Gandhi Government Medical College, Nagpur
- Armed Forces Medical College, Pune
- Kasturba Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Mumbai
Manipur
- Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal
- J N Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital, Imphal-East, Manipur
Meghalaya
NEIGRI of Health and Medical Sciences, Shillong, Meghalaya
Odisha
Regional Medical Research Center, Bhubaneswar
Puducherry
Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research, Puducherry
Punjab
- Government Medical College, Amritsar, Punjab
- Government Medical College, Patiala, Punjab
Rajasthan
- RNT Medical College, Udaipur
- Dr. S.N Medical College, Jodhpur
- Jhalawar Medical College, Jhalawar
- Sawai Man Singh, Jaipur
- SP Medical College, Bikaner
Tamil Nadu
- Government Medical College, Theni
- King’s Institute of Preventive Medicine & Research, Chennai
- Madras Medical College, Chennai
- Govt. Medical College, Thiruvarur
- Tirunelveli Medical College, Tirunelveli
Telangana
- Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad
- Gandhi Medical College, Secunderabad
Tripura
- Government Medical College, Agartala
Uttarakhand
- Government Medical College, Haldwani
Uttar Pradesh
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
- King’s George Medical University, Lucknow
- Command Hospital, Lucknow
- Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh
West Bengal
- IPGMER, Kolkata
- National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata
Private Clinics Allowed to Conduct Coronavirus Testing
Owing to the rising threat of coronavirus in India, the government allowed testing for the infection through a number of private facilities. However, to qualify for testing, private labs need to possess the following:
- All such labs must have a National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration certification when it comes to conducting real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for RNA virus.
- Possess the necessary labour to collect samples from the suspected victim’s home to prevent the risk of contamination.
Apart from these requirements, private labs must also strictly follow the guidelines laid down by the Indian Council of Medical Research or ICMR. This body has already set a cap on COVID-19 testing, along with enumerating the correct way of handling both positive and negative samples.
Under the guidelines, the initial screening test cannot cost more than Rs.1500 to suspected patients. The confirmation test, on the other hand, must not exceed the pricing of Rs.3000.
Further, all positive samples will need to be transported to the National Institute of Virology in Pune after taking proper bio-safety and bio-precautionary measures. On the other hand, as per ICMR guidelines, private testing labs will need to destroy all negative samples within a week from their collection.
As of March 24th, the ICMR approved 16 diagnostic lab chains to collect and test for coronavirus. These chains combined run more than 15000 such facilities across the country. (1)
Thus, if you suspect COVID-19 infection, ensure that you find out the closest private or government facility offering authorised testing facilities. Contact these centres over the phone and ask for sample collection. However, make sure you consult a physician before reaching out to labs, as a written prescription from a qualified doctor is mandatory to undergo such tests.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I visit a lab for coronavirus testing?
Ideally, you should avoid visiting labs, especially if you want to undergo testing from a private facility. Instead, book such a test over the phone and a representative from the lab will come by your house to pick up the sample.
How many samples can government labs test every day?
As of now, the government labs engaged in testing for Coronavirus can test around 12000 samples daily.
What will happen if private labs fail to comply with ICMR guidelines regarding COVID-19 testing?
Any private institution found flouting the strict guidelines laid down by ICMR would face severe legal action.
What is the maximum cost of a coronavirus screening test?
Private labs can charge up to Rs.1500 for this initial test. Keep in mind that the actual price may be lower than this cap.