Covid testing lab set up at Hyderabad airport

Shamshabad: Telangana Health Minister Eatala Rajendar on Wednesday inaugurated the Covid testing lab at GMR Hyderabad International Airport giving travelers the added facility for a safe journey. The facility ensures a safe journey of all passengers entering the city, scheduled for domestic connecting flights or international departing passengers.

As per Telangana State health regulations, all arriving International passengers having onward connections need to have a negative RT-PCR test certificate (done within 96 hours prior to the departure time) either from the port of origin or test done on arrival at the airport to avoid institutional quarantine. This may also be used by those departing passengers who may be required by the destination country to carry a negative report.

The airport has partnered with Mapmygenome, an ICMR and NABL certified lab, for this. The lab will operate 24/7 for passengers and airport personnel. Passengers can avail of the test at the immigration level or the forecourt of Interim International Departures Terminal. Oropharyngeal swabs will be used for sample collection for the test. Results will be available in four-six hours via email and WhatsApp. A hardcopy of the report will also be available. A lounge has been created at the western extended place of arrivals for the passengers who can wait to collect their report.

Mapmygenome CEO Anu Acharya said, "The RGIA is one of the top airports in India, in terms of customer experience. Our Covid testing lab takes this to the next level. As a frequent traveller, I understand the importance of the lab in airport premises. Harnessing the experience gained from being the first private lab to offer Covid testing in Telangana, we now provide a team of experts to make your journey hassle free."