Swine flu: When can private labs test?

A specialised laboratory in Gurgaon is among the handful private facilities in the country being considered for H1N1 testing by the government.

The lab is among those facilities that are at par with the highest level of bio-safety in the country, and has the ability to conduct RNA testing.

So far, H1N1 tests are being conducted by 18 government testing labs -- the bulk of it by NIV in Pune and NCDC in Delhi.

Private players are being brought in to ease the burden and make testing more economic, considering there is a huge backlog. Each test takes up to 48 hours.

One of the big private sector players Religare says it can offer each testing at least at a Rs 1000 less.

"We are also trying to make sure that patients do not need to queue outside our lab. If they call us, we can arrange for sample collection from home," said Dr Shok Rattan, Director, Clinical Reference and NCR Labs, Religare.

All testing agents will be procured by the labs. But there are concerns -- will they get enough?

"We will request the government to ensure that the supply of reagents are constant, because at the moment the global demand is such that I had to buy a single swab for Rs 600," said Dr Naveen Dang, Dr Dang Pathology Lab.

In all, nine other private lab chains are being considered.

The government is holding meetings with around six-seven pan India labs and will be sending teams to inspect these labs. Once they get the green signal from the government these centres will start testing within four-five working days.