BENGALURU: Auriga Research, operator of a Covid-19 testing lab outside Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), denied allegations that its staffers were manipulating RT-PCR tests and issuing false negative/positive reports.
Responding to a TOI report, ‘Test at KIA: Flyers to UAE allege severe malpractice’ published on Tuesday, Auriga Research, however, admitted that some staffers who had indulged in malpractices have been terminated.
The report said UAE-bound passengers required a pre-departure Covid test and were alleging malpractices by the lab which demanded bribes to issue negative reports and was forcing passengers to undergo repeat tests by issuing fake positive reports.
A spokesperson said the passenger claims were baseless as 70% Omicron cases were asymptomatic and the positivity rate has been high since January. “For UAE-bound passengers, we’re adopting Rapid PCR test method by Abbott ID NOW, a methodology mandated by the UAE government.
The Abbott ID Now cartridges are expensive and hence, we have priced it Rs 3,000 per test with an accuracy of 95% against the regular RT-PCR test that costs Rs 500. The accuracy factor pinpoints the virus positivity which most passengers are not willing to accept by comparing with a regular RT-PCR test they have taken hours earlier, thus leading to such ha situation at the airport,” the spokesperson explained.
However, the spokesperson said no retaking of the test was permitted as per law and the staffers have been advised against it. The testing agency claimed some staffers who had indulged in malpractices earlier had been terminated with immediate effect. Stating that some flyers have tried to manipulate the system to get past the hurdle after testing positive, the agency said it is installing additional checks to streamline the process.
