Covid-19: 13-minute ‘express’ test at Mumbai airport

MUMBAI: The wait for the report is one of the most stressful parts of undergoing a Covid-19 test, especially so if you are a passenger awaiting your fate at the airport. Now flyers at the city airport have a faster option, a recently introduced express Covid-19 test that provides results in just 13 minutes.

The airport is the first one to offer the rapid molecular testing technology express test by Abbot, called ‘ID Now’, said a spokesperson of the Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL).

The MIAL spokesperson said the test was fully compliant with the standards set by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

The express test was launched by the airport on December 15 and since then every day 30 to 35 passengers have been opting for it, said the spokesperson.

As of December 28, 400 passengers have undergone this test and these include arriving passengers with connecting flights to destinations outside the state, said the MIAL spokesperson.

“The express test is available at Rs 4,500 and aims to provide arriving passengers with quick and accurate diagnosis in 13 minutes. Passengers can also opt for regular RT-PCR test, which takes around six to eight hours for the result,” the MIAL spokesperson said.

The testing facility option is available for all international arriving passengers at the airport. The 24-hour testing facility is located at Level 2 near exit Gate B.