India: ICMR Appoints Metropolis Healthcare For Conducting Tests For COVID-19

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the country's apex biomedical research body, has appointed Metropolis Healthcare Ltd to conduct test for COVID-19 in Mumbai.¹

Metropolis Healthcare has already begun sample collection from home and testing in Mumbai.

The customer can call Metropolis helpline number 8422801801 for any queries regarding COVID-19 testing. Patients can directly call up the lab but should fulfill ICMR guidelines i.e. they should have doctor's prescription and should WhatsApp the same to them on the number given above.

As per ICMR's guidelines, Metropolis is testing people with travel history and symptoms, people who were in direct contact with positive cases and the ones who have symptoms of fever, cough, difficulty of breathing. Testing is only undertaken upon the prescription of a certified doctor and on furnishing government issued ID proof.

All COVID–19 reports are released within 24 hours. All positive test results are notified to the ICMR immediately. For testing, Metropolis Healthcare has procured kits which ICMR has approved. The test is based on real time PCR technology. It consists of two parts – screening and confirmatory and both the tests are done together for the best possible outcome for the patient.

Metropolis Healthcare's team of technicians has undergone rigorous training for sample collection of COVID – 19. It's laboratory in Mumbai is already specialized for swine flu. The testing and sample collection methodology of COVID-19 is same as swine flu. All technicians are equipped with full protective gear, masks and goggles to their ensure safety and of lab personnel.

Conclusion

Due to increasing number of cases of COVID-19 in India, ministry of health is taking all steps to identify those infected and is giving authorization to various pharmaceutical companies and private labs to develop the COVID-19 kit at a fast pace to ensure proper screening of the disease.

Footnote

1. http://www.pharmabiz.com/NewsDetails.aspx?aid=122029&sid=2

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