THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government has issued an order slashing the RT-PCR test rate in private labs in the state from Rs 1700 to Rs 500. The test rate was reduced based on the availability of ICMR approved test kits in the market at low cost.

Private labs in the state had earlier said they had not yet received a government order reducing the RT-PCR test rate. They added that the old rate for testing will continue until the order is received and that the lower rate will take effect after the order is received.