A Comprehensive Guide to COVID-19 Testing in Bangalore

This article is reviewed regularly (on a monthly basis) by Wego’s editorial team to ensure that the content is up to date & accurate. 

Updated 10 August 2022

Wondering where you can get yourself or your family member tested for COVID-19 in Bangalore? How long do you need to wait for your test reports to arrive? What is the price of the test? Are testing facilities available at Kempegowda International Airport Bangalore? Read along to find answers to all your questions regarding coronavirus testing in Bangalore.

Reverse transcription-polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests, rapid antibodies test, rapid antigen tests, TrueNat tests and Cartridge Based Nucleic Acid Amplification (CB-NAAT) are recognized by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for COVID-19 testing in Bangalore.

Where can I get tested in Bangalore?

The uptick in the number of coronavirus positive cases in Bangalore and all of India has been met with a quick rise in the number of COVID testing centres. Along with government medical centres, numerous private labs have been set up following ICMR guidelines to meet the testing demands.

Below you can find a list of approved government and private testing centres in Bangalore from where you can get a COVID test report.

Note that you cannot just walk into any of these centres for a COVID test without a referral. As advised by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, you should call on the toll-free number 1075 or the central helpline number +91-11-23978046 for information before going. In Bangalore, you may also call 104, the Karnataka state helpline number for COVID-19.

The state government has now limited the tests only to symptomatic individuals and primary contacts. People turning up for testing due to fear of COVID will be turned down.

Government Institutes

RT-PCR Tests

Command Hospital (Air Force), Bengaluru: Google Location
Mail to [email protected] and visit here for more
Additional contacts: Dr. Sunitha Patil (9880260592, [email protected]), Dr. Arpitha / 7086102878

Victoria Hospital, Bangalore Medical College & Research Institute, Bengaluru: Google Location
Visit the official website for more info or mail [email protected] or call Dr. Shanthala at 9448078081

ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Bangalore Field Unit, Bengaluru
Contact email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] or call 9739857549 or 9581808969
Additional contacts: Dr. Ashok (9844250897, [email protected]) and Dr. Manju Jayaswamy (9448675009, [email protected])

Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru (Department of Biochemistry, Centre for Infectious Disease Research): Google Location
For COVID-19 testing queries, mail at [email protected] or call Dr. Umesh (9449492731), Dr. Amith Singh (9481700318), Dr. K.N. Balaji (8197509682), or Dr. Bharat K Sundaraj (9741256176)

National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences, Bangalore: Google Location
Send mail here: [email protected]
Additional contacts: Dr.V Ravi (9343602246, [email protected]), Dr.Manjunath Swamy (9632448208, [email protected])

Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru: Google Location
Contact emails: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] or call  080-2656-0703
Additional contacts: Dr. Ramchandrappa (9844012506, [email protected]), Dr. Vijay Kumar (9343745477, [email protected])

InStem, Bangalore: Google Location
Visit here for more info or send your queries at [email protected]

Bowring Lady Curzon Medical College and Research Institute (BLCMRI), Bangalore: Google Location
Mail at [email protected]
Contact: Nodal officer Dr. Kala Yadav M L (9900977655, [email protected]), Dr. Chethana G S (8553167280), Dr. Santhoshini (9738440325)

MCH Hospital, Devanahalli General Hospital, Bangalore Rural District: Google Location

ESIC Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Bangalore: Google Location

TrueNat Tests

Bangalore Bruhat Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Health Centre (Fever Clinic), Adugodi, Bangalore: Google Location
Contact: Mr. Venkat Shridar CEO (9449599560), Dr Varsha (9663170281, [email protected])

Jayadeva Institute of Cardiac Sciences, Bangalore: Google Location
Contact Nodal officer Dr. Naveena (9448689776 [email protected]), Dr. Kavitha K (9481093987, [email protected]),  Dr. Nandini (9448852785)

Urban Primary Health Centre, BBMP, Konanakunte, Bangalore: Google Location

Urban Primary Health Centre, BBMP, Arakere, Bangalore: Google Location

Coxtown Urban Primary Health Centre, BBMP, KG Halli, D’ Souza Layout, Ashok Nagar, Bengaluru Google location

PHC, Jigani, Bengaluru Google location

PHC, Anekal, Bengaluru Google location

Find contact details about all BBMP Urban Primary Health Centre HERE.

 

Private Labs

RT-PCR Tests

Neuberg Anand Reference Laboratory, Anand Tower, #54, Bowring Hospital Road, Bengaluru: Google Location
Call 1800-425-1974 or send a query at [email protected]

Cancyte Technologies Pvt Ltd, Sri Shankara Research Centre, Bengaluru: Google Location
Call +91-80-4131-1877 or send mail at [email protected]

Central Diagnostic Lab, Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, #82, E.P.I.P. Area, Whitefield, Bengaluru: Google Location
Send mail at [email protected], [email protected] [email protected] or call +91-80-28412956

Syngene International Limited, Biocon Park, SEZ, Bommasandra Industrial Area, Phase IV, Bommasandra-Jigani Link Road, Bengaluru: Google Location
Call +91-80-2808-2808 or shoot an email to any of these addresses: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

Department of Lab Medicine, Narayana Hrudayalaya Ltd, 258/A, Bommasandra Industrial Area, Hosur Road, Bengaluru: Google Location
Call +91-186-208-208 or mail [email protected]

Aster Clinical Lab LLP, No 24, Venkatappa Road, Tasker Town, Vasanthanagar, Bangalore: Google Location
Book an appointment here: 080 4555 3333 or mail [email protected]

Microbiological Lab, 22-D 3, KIADB Industrial Area, 1st Phase, Kumbalagidu, Bengaluru: Google Location
Phone no.: +91-80-2843-7933, email address: [email protected]

Hybrinomics Life Science and diagnostics LLP, Site No 50, Maruthi Township, B. Hanumanthanagar, Bileshivale, Doddagubbi Post, Bengaluru: Google Location
Call +91-79758-25968 or email at [email protected], [email protected] for booking queries

XCyton Diagnostics Pvt Ltd – Molecular Diagnostic Services, #449, 10th Cross, 4th Phase, Peenya, Bengaluru: Google Location
Phone numbers: +91-80-2836-7581, +91-80-2836-7582, +91-80-2836-7583, +91-80-2836-7584, +91-80-2836-7585, email: [email protected]

St. Johns Medical College and Hospital, Bangalore: Google Location
Email [email protected] for queries or call 080-2206-5003, 080-2206-5008, 080-2206-5000, 080-2206-5250, 080-2206-5001

Manipal Hospital, Bangalore: Google Location
Home Care Lab helpline – 9591140000 for booking an appointment for at-home collection or mail [email protected] for doubts

Eurofins Clinical Genetics India Pvt Ltd, Eurofins, #21 & #22, Peenya II Phase, Peenya, Bengaluru: Google Location
Email address: [email protected], [email protected] or call +918067223200

TrueNat Tests

Dept of Lab, Mallige Medical Centre Pvt Ltd, 31 & 32, Crescent Road, Bangalore: Google Location
Call +91-80-67165555, +91-80-22203333 or visit official website for COVID-19 service details

Bangalore Baptist Hospital Lab, Bangalore Baptist Hospital, Bellary Road, Hebbal, Bangalore: Google Location

RV Metropolis Diagnostic and Healthcare Centre Pvt Ltd, Basement, MS Ramaiah Memorial Hospital, MSRIT Post, New Bel Road, Bangalore: Google Location
Visit here for contact details of RV Metropolis.

Prima Diagnostics, a unit of Bhima Life Sciences LLP, No. 4 Therina Road, 17th Across, Jayanagar 3rd block., Bengaluru: Google Location
Visit here to book an appointment for testing.

Central Lab (A Unit of Centralab Healthcare services Private Limited), F3, Ground,1st & 3rd Floor, Shivashankar Plaza Lalbagh Road, Richmond Circle Junction, Bangalore: Google Location
Call +91 80 222 37370, Common: +919886397974 / 9886728555 / 9886066960, Madhushdhana : +919513695434, Lalitha : +919886397970

CB NAAT Tests

Dept of Pathology & Lab Medicine, Aster CMI Hospital, #43/2, NH 7, International Airport Rd, Sahakar Nagar, Bengaluru: Google Location
Mail [email protected], [email protected]

Dept of Lab Medicine, Vikram Hospital Pvt Ltd, No 71/1, Millers Road, Bengaluru: Google Location
Mail [email protected], call 080-61914686 for an appointment

SRL Limited at Fortis hospitals, 154/9, Bannerghatta Main Road, Bengaluru: Google Location
Send queries at [email protected]

Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Columbia Asia Referral Hospital, Yeshwantpur, #26/4, Brigade Gateway, Malleshwaram West, Bengaluru: Google Location
Visit here to submit a query or mail [email protected].

Lotus Diagnostic Centre, No.493, CMH Road, Diagonally opposite to ICICI Bank, Indiranagar, Bangalore: Google Location
Phone no.: 7829627770, 080 – 25284000, 080 – 25250392. For home collection, call 7019587561 or 8197108918

Trident Diagnostics & Healthcare Pvt. Ltd, located at 2nd main Jagajyothi Nagara, 80 feet outer Ring Road, Kenchanapura Cross bus stop, Nagadevanahalli, Bengaluru Google location

Home Collection

If you want to get tested for coronavirus, you can opt for an at-home collection facility for COVID testing with prior booking. Trained health officials arrive, clad in PPE, and collect the samples, ensuring minimum contact all the while.

The BBMP has taken several initiatives to accomplish this by setting up mobile testing units that bring all health officials and testing kits to your doorstep. To encourage low-income residents to get tested, some of these mobile units are sent to high-density and containment zones to conduct rapid antigen tests for free.

To take a free COVID test in Bangalore at home, you can contact:

• Yelahanka Zone: 9480685948
• Mahadevapura Zone: 080-23010101 / 23010102
• Bommanahalli Zone: 8884666670
• RR Nagar Zone: 080-28601050 / 28600954
• South Zone: 8431816718
• East Zone: 7411038024
• West Zone: 080-68248454
• Dasarahalli Zone: 080-28394909 / 3688

In addition to the free Rapid Antigen Test, a few Public Health Centers in the Bommanahalli region are also collecting samples at residents’ doorsteps for RT-PCR tests with TrueNat machines. If you are showing symptoms or you are a primary contact of any person who has tested positive recently, you can call 8884666670 to get the test done at your home immediately.

Standalone diagnostic labs and hospitals such as Aster Labs, SRL Diagnostics, Thyrocare, Infinity Diagnostic Labs, and Apollo Diagnostics Bangalore, among others, also offer at-home sample collection services.

 

Emergency Contacts for COVID Tests in Bangalore

Since it is the responsibility of BBMP to arrange for tests of primary contacts of COVID-positive patients, you may contact their officials for any case of emergency:

• East: 7411038024
• West: 080-68248454
• South: 8431816718
• R.R. Nagar: 080-28601050 / 080-28600954
• Dasarahalli:080-28394909 / 080-28393688
• Bommanahalli: 8884666670
• Yelahanka: 9480685948
• Mahadevapura: 080-23010101 / 080-20310102

 

COVID testing at Bangalore Airport and Railway stations for arriving passengers

Karnataka had been pool testing passengers in airports and railway stations since May. The private laboratory Xcyton Diagnostics conducts the test at airports, collecting five samples in a pool, which if tested positive, individual RT-PCR tests follow. For railway stations, the test will cost INR 650 per passenger.

At Bengaluru International Airport those arriving from Japan and Thailand, should undergo thermal screening upon arrival and undergo RT-PCR testing if symptomatic.

 

How much do COVID tests in Bangalore cost?

ICMR encourages labs and hospitals to conduct tests free of cost or at least at affordable rates. Expect to pay around INR 800 for the test in private labs since it is the cap set by the Karnataka government. Meanwhile, some government testing centers will charge you lower around INR 500. The cost is inclusive of the PPE you will be provided at the time of testing. As mentioned earlier, you can also avail a free COVID test (rapid antigen test) in Bangalore city from the mobile testing units.

As per the new guidelines of the Government of Karnataka, the TrueNat test is capped at Rs 1,250, CBNAAT at Rs 2,400, the rapid antibody test at Rs 500, and the rapid antigen test at Rs 400.

 

When should you take a COVID test?

This is the most confusing part since the initial stage of COVID-19 symptoms is nothing different from your common flu. The wide variety of symptoms in infected individuals with some even going asymptomatic makes it no easier. But in most cases, the following symptoms tend to last longer than your regular fever or flu:

• Fever
• Difficulties in breathing
• Cough

Other clinical symptoms included in the list by ICMR are:

• Sore throat
• Fatigue
• Mucous formation and running nose
• Muscle pain
• Anosmia or loss of taste
• Ageusia or loss of smell

Gastrointestinal problems are also not uncommon. It is advisable that if any symptom surfaces, you seek medical assistance instead of indulging in self-medication. Take medications as your physician prescribes. If you see the symptoms are persisting for more than three days even after administering medicine, you can go for a COVID test.

ICMR also prioritizes testing of high-risk contacts and asymptomatic suspects who need to undergo any acute surgery. The high-risk category involves individuals in their 60s or above and those suffering from non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes, chronic kidney ailment, hypertension, cardiac diseases, etc. If you are suffering from influenza or other acute respiratory infections, the same applies to you.

If you wish to travel to a state or foreign nation which asks for a negative COVID-19 test report before entry, you can get a test done, thanks to the Union Health Ministry’s advisory on ‘Testing On Demand‘. Even if you are not traveling, you can take a test if you wish to, for other practical reasons. That being said, try not to take a test out of panic or fear as that overburdens health officials for no reason.

 

What documents are needed for a COVID test?

For any COVID test in Bangalore, you’ll need to bring doctor’s prescription as mandated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in India. You also need to submit your Bangalore address proof using government ID (Aadhar card/ Passport/ Voter card) and ICMR specimen referral form for COVID-19 filled out with details of the suspected patient. For some labs, you can find similar patient information forms on their respective website. At the time of sample collection, the lab will also collect your phone number.

You must get your test done only from an ICMR-accredited or NABL-accredited (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) testing center. If need be, you can cross-check the lab’s authenticity by checking their ICMR registration number, which the governing body states should be prominently mentioned by the labs in the test reports.

 

How long until I get my COVID test results?

RT-PCR tests can be completed in as little as three hours. However, due to the large number of tests being conducted, labs take anywhere between six hours to a day to reveal the test reports. Government units can take up to 48 hours for processing after sample collection. Until the test results arrive, you must stay in isolation to prevent the potential transmission of the virus.

Rapid tests typically produce a positive or negative result within 30 minutes. While the outcome is fast, they serve the purpose of merely preliminary tests rather than giving any reliable, substantial result. TruNat takes around 60 minutes for interpretation.

 

What happens after the test?

Testing labs would inform you of the results of the test either via phone or over email. If you test positive for coronavirus, stay calm, and follow the directions of the health officials. Labs send all details of positive patients to BBMP or any state health authority that will contact you. For clarifications on what further steps you should take, you may also call them or the District Surveillance Officer (DSO) on the helpline numbers 14410, 104, 080-1077, or 080-22967200.

If your test result is positive, other residents of your home are likely to undergo a COVID test as per the health team’s instructions. The team would also start contact tracing and put them into quarantine unless a test is arranged.

Asymptomatic cases or those with mild symptoms are often deemed suitable for home isolation. Apartments with at least two separate rooms with separate washrooms can qualify for home isolation. Otherwise, medical officials would transfer you to a COVID care centre. If you are in home isolation, you will have all prescribed medicines and a pulse oximeter at your disposal. All consultations will take place over the phone. If your case deteriorates, you will be transferred to a dedicated care centre.

 

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