Lagos approves 10% cut in COVID test cost at private labs

The Lagos government has approved a 10 percent cut in the cost of COVID tests taken at approved private laboratories across the state.

Akin Abayomi, Lagos commissioner for health, announced the development on Wednesday at a media briefing.

According to him, the state government has reduced the cost of the COVID polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test at accredited private laboratories from N50,400 to N45,250.

Abayomi said the reduction in cost is to minimise the expenses incurred by persons who require the PCR tests for travel, work, or other purposes other than COVID symptoms or contact tracing.

He said the new price will take effect from January 28.

“For those that need to travel and require a private PCR test, the Lagos state government has recommended a reduction in the cost of COVID-19 PCR test at the accredited private laboratories consortium from N50,400 to N45,250 per PCR test commencing on the 28th of January 2022,” he said.

“You will recall that N50,400 initial PCR test fee charged at the private laboratories was a fixed amount approved by the governor during the expansion of our testing to include the private laboratories consortium in the first wave.”

The commissioner added that PCR tests at approved public health laboratories and sample collection centres in the state remain free for interested persons.