Maharashtra: accreditation of 11 private testing labs revoked in Amravati

In Maharashtra, the Amravati district administration has revoked the accreditation of 11 private laboratories conducting Rapid Antigen Tests. Complaits were continuosly pouring in that some private laboratories conducting rapid antigen testing in Amravati district were found to have discrepancies in the investigation hence the District Collector of Amravati revoked the accreditation of these 11 laboratories. These laboratories were not reporting on the ICMR portal on time and some of their reports were found to be fake as well. The administration was continuously receiving complaints about bogus testing and non-conformity to the guidelines set by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) also. 

Maharashtra  public health minister Rajesh Tope has however said that no complaints were received on the RT-PCR tests in Akola, Amravati and Washim districts. ICMR has approved a total of 517 laboratories in the state, including 376 government and 141 private laboratories.Out of these laboratories, a total of 218 laboratories (98 government and 120 private) use RTPCR testing method for diagnosis of Covid19. ICMR has selected two laboratories at Kasturba Infectious Diseases Central Laboratory, Mumbai and NIV, Pune as mentors to guide the quality and testing of these laboratories.