No coronavirus test kits procured at Rs 4,500 a piece: ICMR

New Delhi, Apr 27 (PTI) Responding to a tweet by Congress leer Udit Raj, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Monday said that coronavirus test kits have been procured at Rs 4,500 a piece.

country's apex health research body also shared price range approved by it for rapid test kits and RT-PCR kits used in detection of COVID-19 infection.

"This is Fake News. Price range approved by ICMR is Rs 740-1150 for RT-PCR and Rs 528-795 for Rapid Test. test has been procured at Rs 4500. Any Indian company wanting to supply at lower rates is welcome to contact ICMR or Ms Anu Nagar, JS Health Research(011-23736222)," ICMR said in a tweet on Monday morning, responding to a post by Congress leer.

Raj h posted a screenshot of a tweet on Sunday which claimed that even though 17 companies were rey to manufacture and offer coronavirus test kits for Rs 500, prime minister granted tender for COVID-19 testing kits to a Gujarat-based company at price of Rs 4,500 per kit.

former Lok Sabha member h, however, ded that, "This is being circulated on social media. It is difficult to say what is truth."

Meanwhile, ICMR on Monday asked states to stop using COVID-19 rapid antibody test kits procured from two Chinese companies and return m to be sent back to suppliers.

In an visory sent to chief secretaries of all states and Union Territories on Monday, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said it "evaluated kits of Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech and Zhuhai Livson Diagstics in field conditions. results have shown wide variation in ir sensitivity, despite early promise of good performance for surveillance purpose".

"In view of this, states are vised to stop using se kits, procured from above mentioned companies and return m to be sent back to suppliers," it said.

health ministry on its part issued a statement saying that ICMR has t me any payment whatsoever in respect of se supplies.

"Because of due process followed (t going for procurement with 100 per cent vance amount), GoI does t stand to lose a single rupee," ministry said.

Congress leer Rahul Gandhi also, earlier in day, h alleged that some people were indulging in profiteering while supplying rapid test kits for COVID-19 to government. PTI PLB SMN

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