There are now 10 private laboratories accredited for the COVID-19 test in Lagos, Nigeria’s bustling commercial hub, and they are offering the service at N50,400 per person, whether those desirous of the test exhibit symptoms or not.
“Living or working in Lagos? You can now get tested for COVID-19 regardless of your symptoms,” according to a notice on the website of the Lagos State Biobank. “Register to schedule a test for yourself or for a group.”
Lagos State had earlier accredited seven private laboratories for COVID-19 testing. An updated ‘List of accredited private laboratories for COVID-19 testing in Lagos’ seen by BusinessDay includes Synlab, 54 Gene, Medbury Medical, ClinaLancet, Biologix Medicals, 02 Diagnostic, Vcare Diagnostics, Clinix Healthcare, Afriglobal Medicare and Reddington Zaine Laboratories.
Even though the testing is to be done by a selected private lab, the notice on the website of the Lagos State Biobank shows booking and payment could be done through an online portal created by the Lagos State Biobank.
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Further checks by BusinessDay, however, showed some of the laboratories accepted the direct booking, at least as seen on Synlab, 54Gene, and Medbury Medical website.
Clarifications under the Lagos Biobank website’s Frequently Asked Questions also shows the tests can be conducted in less than five minutes and results ready within 24-48 hours, same as what was found on websites of some private labs.
Those who test positive are to be counseled and informed of the next steps by one of the agency’s counselors, according to information on its website.
“Currently the practice is to self-isolate at home if you are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. If however, you become sick, you can proceed to any of the Lagos State Isolation Centres,” the Lagos State Biobank indicated.
The private laboratories are expected to complement public test centres such as the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos State Biobank, the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), and the Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL).
COVID–19 test: NCDC issues guidelines to private labs | TheCable
