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

Responding to a tweet by Congress leader Udit Raj, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Monday said that no coronavirus test kits have been procured at Rs 4,500 a piece.

The country's apex health research body also shared the price range approved by it for the rapid test kits and RT-PCR kits used in the detection of the 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. No 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)," the ICMR said in a tweet on Monday morning, responding to a post by the Congress leader.

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

The former Lok Sabha member had, however, added that, "This is being circulated on social media. It is difficult to say what is the truth."