H1N1 test lab in ‘blacklist’

Following the government order,Religare cannot collect samples for swine flu tests and all tests conducted by it will be held nullified till further notice.

Kataria said the results of swine flu tests conducted by Religare and other private labs were sent to NICD for cross-verification. He added that the lab was blacklisted to avoid panic among the public,especially at a time when the influenza is spreading in the region as the mercury dips.

According to official records,675 cases have tested positive in Gurgaon district so far. Of these,89 were tested at the district civil hospital and 586 confirmed by various private laboratories.

“Random samples tested positive by these private laboratories were sent to NICD for cross-verification,and a large percentage of cases was found to be uninfected,” Kataria said. “The district authorities thereafter prepared a report to find out the testing centres that were at fault — it emerged that SRS Religare had tested most of the confirmed results.”

Since random samples from private labs were sent to NICD,Kataria said it is not possible to give a break-up of how many of them were tested by Religare.

The district authorities sent the report to the state government,which,Kataria said,decided to blacklist the lab citing lack of equipment or technique to conduct these tests.

“While there is adequate stock of Tamiflu tablets,we are concerned that if labs confirm cases incorrectly,they might cause widespread panic,” he said. “Besides,the virus can become resistant to medicine if one consumes Tamiflu without being infected.”

An official from Religare said the lab had taken adequate measures while carrying out the tests.