Why private labs can't test?

At the isolation ward at a Delhi hospital there is a spurt in suspected H1 N1 swine cases which has led to a shortage of swabs.

So samples of suspected cases could not be taken and patients had to be turned away, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), which is running short of reagents, is working overtime to provide swabs to testing centres across the country.

The bigger worry is the work load of the designated labs. Eighteen government laboratories have been shortlisted by the Centre but none of them are up and running.

"It is a state subject. There are still some problems and we are trying to get them running as soon as possible," said Vineet Chawdhry.

But worried families cannot afford to wait so this gap is being filled by private labs, many of which are carrying out rapid tests for influenza and passing it off as swine flu.

"These have fallacies and inaccuracies. The only test that is confirmatory is RTPCR. You need expertise for this," said Dr Naveen Dang.

With flu cases rising, the pressure on government-designated labs is increasing. They are running short of reagents and swabs. It is only a matter of time before the private sector is asked to step in but the question is, are they ready?

Testing for swine flu needs specially designed labs with proper equipment. A few accredited private path labs have already acquired the primer and the reagents and are waiting for the government to give them licenses. But the government is not ready just yet.