The central government has recommended that the maximum charge for each Covid-19 test by private laboratories should not exceed Rs 4,500. (Photo: PTI)

The Union government on Monday permitted 12 private labs to conduct Covid-19 detection tests.

The Indian Council of Medical Research on Monday said, "12 private-lab chains have registered after being allowed for Covid-19 testing; they have 15,000 collection centres."

The list includes five labs in Maharashtra, two each in Haryana and Tamil Nadu, and one each in Delhi, Gujarat and Karnataka.

The list of private labs currently authorised to test for coronavirus in India are:

Names of States Names of Laboratory and Address Delhi 1. Lal Path Labs, Block -E, Sector 18, Rohini, Delhi Gujarat 1. Unipath Specialty laboratory limited, 102, Sanoma Plaza, Opposite Parimal Garden, Besides JMC House, Ellisbridge, Ahmedabad Haryana 1. Strand Life Sciences, A-17, Sector 34, Gurugram

2. SRL Limited, GP26, Sector 18, Gurugram Karnataka 1. Neuberg Anand Reference Laboratory, Anand Tower, #54, Bowring Hospital Road, Bengaluru Maharashtra 1. Thyrocare Technologies Limited, D37/1, TTC MIDC, Turbhe,

Navi Mumbai

2. Suburban Diagnostics (India) Pvt. Ltd., 306, 307/T, 3rd Floor,

Sunshine Blvd., Andheri (W), Mumbai

3. Metropolis Healthcare Ltd, Unit No. 409-416, 4th Floor,

Commercial Building-1, Kohinoor Mall, Mumbai

4. Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre,

Molecular Medicine, Reliance Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., R-282, TTC

Industrial Area, Rabale, Navi Mumbai

5. SRL Limited, Prime Square Building, Plot No 1, Gaiwadi

Industrial Estate, SV Road, Goregaon, Mumbai Tamil Nadu 1. Dept. of Clinical Virology, CMC, Vellore

2. Department of Laboratory Services, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise

Ltd, Chennai

On Sunday, the ICMR had approved testing at three more facilities, including two in Pune and one in Mumbai.

The central government on Saturday recommended that the maximum charge for each Covid-19 test by private laboratories should not exceed Rs 4,500.

All private laboratories which have NABL accreditation for real-time PCR SA for RNA virus will be allowed to conduct Covid-19 tests, according to the guidelines issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for Covid-19 testing in private laboratories, which were notified by the Union Health Ministry on Saturday night.

The National Task Force recommends that the maximum cost for testing should not exceed Rs 4,500. This may include Rs 1,500 as a screening test for suspect cases and an additional Rs 3,000 for confirmation test, the guidelines said.

"However, the ICMR encourages free or subsidised testing in this hour of a national public health emergency," the guidelines stated.

An order issued by the Union Health Ministry said the failure to comply with the guidelines will result in legal action.