Check if you have COVID ::

(1) Covid Symptoms

Testing Centers

Testing is done at fever clinics/swab collection centres at the district and taluk levels. There are at least 113 fever clinics/swab collection centres in Bengaluru (66 private and 51 government), where your samples can be taken.

  • For a list of Private Fever Clinics in Bengaluru Click here
  • For a list of Government Fever Clinics in Bengaluru Click here

Source : https://bengaluru.citizenmatters.in/what-to-do-if-you-test-positive-for-covid-bengaluru-guide-symptoms-testing-isolation-treatment-47597 and GoK COVID-19 information portal



Testing Costs

Testing is free of charge in all government testing centers.

  • The rate of RT-PCR testing for the samples sent by Government in private laboratories including screening test and confirmatory test - Rs.2000/- per test inclusive of the PPE kit.
  • Ceiling rate of private samples in private laboratories including screening test and confirmatory test - Rs.3,000/- per test inclusive of the PPE kit.
  • Rate of Rapid Antigen Test for private samples in private laboratories - Rs.700/- per samples inclusive of PPE kit.
For further information, refer to the circular issued by Gok dt.:24.07.20 Click here



Details regarding your test results

From fever clinics/swab collection centres, samples are sent to one of the 25 ICMR-approved testing labs in Bengaluru. The outer time limit for testing the sample after receiving it at the lab is as follows:

  • 12 hours - For suspected death cases, follow up for a positive sample of primary contacts and secondary contacts, symptomatic healthcare workers and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) cases
  • 24 hours - Influenza Like Illness (ILI) patients in containment zones and ILI patients in other areas
  • 24 to 48 hours - Others
For more information , refer to the GoK Circular dt.: 02.05.20 Click here All fever clinics and labs send all test reports to the BBMP or the State Health Department. Hence, you may get the results directly from BBMP.



Types of tests and their procedures

There are two types of tests available :
The RT-PCR test

  • It is a method of testing by taking a nasal/throat swab from a patient. It involves extracting ribonucleic acid or RNA, which is the genetic material of the virus.
  • RT-PCR test has a specificity rate (ability to identify those without the disease) of nearly 100 per cent whereas the sensitivity rate (ability to identify those with the disease) of about 67 per cent. This means, RT-PCR test will not give false positives but there are 30-35 per cent chances of getting false negatives. Explaining the reason behind the low sensitivity rate and why is RT-PCR test still considered the gold standard for testing.
The Rapid Antigen Test
  • As far as Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) is concerned, it is gaining grounds and has led to a spike in the number of tests being conducted, as it is quick and cheap. Only nasopharyngeal swabs are collected by trained healthcare workers. RAT detects the presence of viral proteins (antigens – attributes of the virus) in a sample from the respiratory tract of a person. However, it is capable of giving more false negatives.



Precautions to be taken while waiting for the results

People who have given samples for testing may be infectious. Hence, as per government order,, all such persons are advised strict home quarantine until the results are communicated. In the meanwhile, you can do these things:

  • Monitor your body temperature every 4 hours
  • If you have a Pulse Oximeter, monitor the Oxygen concentration levels every 4 hours.
  • If your Oxygen level is less than 95%, alert the Senior Health Inspector/POC from BBMP immediately. You need emergency attention.
  • Do salt water gargling every 3 hours.
  • Try and organize a few N95 masks and wear them.
  • Eat healthy food and ensure you are well hydrated
For more information refer to the circular by Govt. of Karnataka dt.: 13.07.20 - click here



Testing criteria

Testing can be done only after a preliminary assessment by a doctor or at a fever clinic. The current protocol to be tested for COVID-19 is as follows:

  • Individuals who have undertaken international travel will be tested if symptomatic. If Asymptomatic they will be tested once between 5th to 7th day of arrival.
  • Primary Contacts (direct and high-risk contacts) of COVID-19 positive persons will be tested immediately if symptomatic. If asymptomatic, they will be tested once between day 5 and day 10 of coming into contact.
  • Secondary (low risk contacts) will be tested only if symptomatic.
  • All patients of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) will be tested immediately
  • For people with Influenza Like Illness(ILI) symptoms:
1. All ILI patients from containment zones and buffer zones will be test immediately 2. Health Care Workers must be tested immediately 3. Frontline workers involved in containment and mitigation of COVID-19 must be tested immediately 4. All pregnant women and persons with co-morbidity (HIV, Tuberculosis, Cancer, Stroke, Dialysis, organ transplant, Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension and other immuno-compromised) and elderly person with ILI symptoms must be tested immediately
  • Pregnant women from Containment and Buffer Zone must be tested once, 14 days before expected delivery date.
  • Inter-state returnees and travellers will be tested immediately if symptomatic. If asymptomatic, a test is not required unless the person is elderly, pregnant or has comorbidities.
For further information, refer to the Lab Testing Protocol by GoK dt.: 08.06.20 Click here



(2) COVID testing

Testing Centers

Testing is done at fever clinics/swab collection centres at the district and taluk levels. There are at least 113 fever clinics/swab collection centres in Bengaluru (66 private and 51 government), where your samples can be taken.

  • For a list of Private Fever Clinics in Bengaluru Click here
  • For a list of Government Fever Clinics in Bengaluru Click here

Source : https://bengaluru.citizenmatters.in/what-to-do-if-you-test-positive-for-covid-bengaluru-guide-symptoms-testing-isolation-treatment-47597 and GoK COVID-19 information portal



Testing Costs

Testing is free of charge in all government testing centers.

  • The rate of RT-PCR testing for the samples sent by Government in private laboratories including screening test and confirmatory test - Rs.2000/- per test inclusive of the PPE kit.
  • Ceiling rate of private samples in private laboratories including screening test and confirmatory test - Rs.3,000/- per test inclusive of the PPE kit.
  • Rate of Rapid Antigen Test for private samples in private laboratories - Rs.700/- per samples inclusive of PPE kit.
For further information, refer to the circular issued by Gok dt.:24.07.20 Click here



Details regarding your test results

From fever clinics/swab collection centres, samples are sent to one of the 25 ICMR-approved testing labs in Bengaluru. The outer time limit for testing the sample after receiving it at the lab is as follows:

  • 12 hours - For suspected death cases, follow up for a positive sample of primary contacts and secondary contacts, symptomatic healthcare workers and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) cases
  • 24 hours - Influenza Like Illness (ILI) patients in containment zones and ILI patients in other areas
  • 24 to 48 hours - Others
For more information , refer to the GoK Circular dt.: 02.05.20 Click here All fever clinics and labs send all test reports to the BBMP or the State Health Department. Hence, you may get the results directly from BBMP.



Types of tests and their procedures

There are two types of tests available :
The RT-PCR test

  • It is a method of testing by taking a nasal/throat swab from a patient. It involves extracting ribonucleic acid or RNA, which is the genetic material of the virus.
  • RT-PCR test has a specificity rate (ability to identify those without the disease) of nearly 100 per cent whereas the sensitivity rate (ability to identify those with the disease) of about 67 per cent. This means, RT-PCR test will not give false positives but there are 30-35 per cent chances of getting false negatives. Explaining the reason behind the low sensitivity rate and why is RT-PCR test still considered the gold standard for testing.
The Rapid Antigen Test
  • As far as Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) is concerned, it is gaining grounds and has led to a spike in the number of tests being conducted, as it is quick and cheap. Only nasopharyngeal swabs are collected by trained healthcare workers. RAT detects the presence of viral proteins (antigens – attributes of the virus) in a sample from the respiratory tract of a person. However, it is capable of giving more false negatives.



Precautions to be taken while waiting for the results

People who have given samples for testing may be infectious. Hence, as per government order,, all such persons are advised strict home quarantine until the results are communicated. In the meanwhile, you can do these things:

  • Monitor your body temperature every 4 hours
  • If you have a Pulse Oximeter, monitor the Oxygen concentration levels every 4 hours.
  • If your Oxygen level is less than 95%, alert the Senior Health Inspector/POC from BBMP immediately. You need emergency attention.
  • Do salt water gargling every 3 hours.
  • Try and organize a few N95 masks and wear them.
  • Eat healthy food and ensure you are well hydrated
For more information refer to the circular by Govt. of Karnataka dt.: 13.07.20 - click here



Testing criteria

Testing can be done only after a preliminary assessment by a doctor or at a fever clinic. The current protocol to be tested for COVID-19 is as follows:

  • Individuals who have undertaken international travel will be tested if symptomatic. If Asymptomatic they will be tested once between 5th to 7th day of arrival.
  • Primary Contacts (direct and high-risk contacts) of COVID-19 positive persons will be tested immediately if symptomatic. If asymptomatic, they will be tested once between day 5 and day 10 of coming into contact.
  • Secondary (low risk contacts) will be tested only if symptomatic.
  • All patients of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) will be tested immediately
  • For people with Influenza Like Illness(ILI) symptoms:
1. All ILI patients from containment zones and buffer zones will be test immediately 2. Health Care Workers must be tested immediately 3. Frontline workers involved in containment and mitigation of COVID-19 must be tested immediately 4. All pregnant women and persons with co-morbidity (HIV, Tuberculosis, Cancer, Stroke, Dialysis, organ transplant, Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension and other immuno-compromised) and elderly person with ILI symptoms must be tested immediately
  • Pregnant women from Containment and Buffer Zone must be tested once, 14 days before expected delivery date.
  • Inter-state returnees and travellers will be tested immediately if symptomatic. If asymptomatic, a test is not required unless the person is elderly, pregnant or has comorbidities.
For further information, refer to the Lab Testing Protocol by GoK dt.: 08.06.20 Click here



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Disclaimer: All data is sourced from BBMP and will be updated in a timely manner.