The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced that coronavirus (COVID-19) tests conducted within its molecular laboratories across the country are free.
It stated this on Sunday via its verified Twitter handle.
This tweet came amid the controversy over the COVID-19 tests to be conducted for SS3 students preparing for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Ogun State where parents allegedly complained that state government is charging N25,000 per child.
It listed 61 NCDC laboratories located across the country where such tests could be conducted free.
“Kindly note that COVID-19 tests conducted in facilities within the NCDC molecular laboratory network are free of charge.
They include two at the State Specialist Hospital, Amachara in Abia State; Federal Medical Centre, Yola, Adamawa; Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, Akwa Ibom State; Accunalysis Medical Diagnostics, Anambra; COOUTH Awka Abbott Laboratory; Bauchi State Reference Laboratory, Bauchi; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital; 161 AHM Laboratory, Benue; and University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Borno.
“In Lagos, there are Virology Lagos University Teaching Hospital; Nigeria Institute for Medical Research; Biosafety Level-3 Laboratory; 54gene Lagos; and the NCDC Central Public Health Laboratory.
“In Abuja, there are the NCDC National Reference Laboratory; Defence Reference Laboratory; FCT – 54gene; State House Annex Clinic Laboratory; University of Abuja, Gwagwalada Laboratory; and United Nations IOM Laboratory.”
Scale-up of testing is key in assessing the #COVID19Nigeria situation and coordinating response across the country.
Kindly note that #COVID19 tests conducted in facilities within the NCDC molecular lab network are FREE of charge.
View full list via:https://t.co/SqEowDI58H pic.twitter.com/icl8UYRqu3
— NCDC (@NCDCgov) August 2, 2020
