Hyderabad: The State health authorities had given notices to 13 private laboratories in Hyderabad guiding them to rectify data differences and other deficiencies related to infrastructure and availability of trained manpower, which were pointed out at the time of inspections held by senior officials. 

There are 23 private diagnostic laboratories that have received the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) permission to conduct Covid-19 diagnostics. 

Most of these private laboratories in Hyderabad had a National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) certification that enabled ICMR to issue permits to take up Covid-19 tests.

“The positivity rate of Covid-19 tests in a particular private laboratory on Friday was around 70 percent, which is not possible. Usually, the positivity rate for a typical government or private laboratory is around 20 percent to 25 percent. We suspect the test results could have been contaminated and that’s why we held back those results, which will be studied in detail by an expert committee and released,” Director of Public Health and Family Welfare, Dr. G Srinivas Rao said in a press meet.

Dr. Rao said several data discrepancies and defects were found during the inspection of private laboratories.

“We have given ample time to these laboratories to rectify the defects. Already some have completed that process while some are in the process of rectification. We also want to make it clear if laboratories do not follow ICMR guidelines and do not correct discrepancies, then their recognition will be canceled,” he said.

He also said that all the ten government laboratories involved in conducting Covid-19 testing through RTPCR method are now functioning to their capabilities and Within few days, the number of tests in these ten laboratories will be increased to 6,500 per day. 

“Four more government laboratories including Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences(RIMS), Adilabad, Government General Hospital in Nizamabad, Suryapet, and Area Hospital in Gadwal have now received permission to conduct Covid-19 testing through CBNAAT machines, which are also utilized for TB diagnosis,” he added.

 “There is no question of either fudging or hiding data related to Covid-19 positive cases and even deaths. Right from day one, the health department has been transparent in sharing the information related to Covid-19 positive cases and fatalities,” Dr. Rao said

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