Lab owners plea against fixing cost at ₹500 The Kerala High Court on Friday declined to stay the government order reducing the charge of RT-PCR test in private laboratories to ₹500 from ₹1,700. Justice N. Nagaresh observed that prima facie, it appeared that the government had arrived at the rate of RT-PCR test after conducting a market survey and study conducted through Kerala Medical Services Corporation Limited (KMSCL). The court said that it was discernible from the statement filed by the government that the cost of RT-PCR test, including swab collection, would come to ₹135-₹240 only. In fact, the charge for the test in many of the other States, including Haryana, Telangana, and Uttarakhand, were within the same range as that fixed by the State government. Therefore, the court did not find any reason to pass an interim order, the court added.