NEW DELHI: Genestrings Diagnostics, which operates the Covid testing lab at Delhi Airport, late on Wednesday night said it is trying “ways to reduce cost”. A rapid RT-PCR test at IGIA currently costs Rs 3,500. The statement came hours after the Maharashtra government came to flyers’ rescue by getting Mumbai Airport to drop rapid RT-PCR test price from Rs 3,900 to Rs 1,975, from Wednesday.
Genestrings Diagnostics COO said Chetan Kohli said: “In line with the recent price capping at Karnataka and Maharashtra, we’re also working diligently with our equipment and kit suppliers to find ways to reduce cost. The focus here is not on profitability but rather feasibility and ensuring quality output. While a large proportion of costs goes in procurement of testing kits, there are unseen costs as well in case of an airport testing facility.”
“Nonetheless, we’re hopeful that as a natural progression of reduction in kit costs, which we have already witnessed in case of RTPCR, we’ll also be able to bring down the costs considerably, soon,” Kohli said.
