Prices of tests for COVID-19 inflated in Ukraine – experts

Experts say tests for COVID-19 in Ukraine may show inaccurate results, despite the fact that their price is quite high.

Moreover, the price of the same test may vary in different laboratories, according to the Hroshi TV show.

President of the All-Ukrainian Council for the Protection of Patients' Rights and Safety Viktor Serdiuk believes that Ukrainian citizens "carry money to laboratories" in a state of panic

"Laboratories recruit trained staff and purchase the cheapest consumables for tests," he said.

A PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test in Ukraine costs up to UAH 2,500 (US$88), while all tests done in the country cost UAH 2.5 billion (US$88 million).

According to Serdiuk, the test's profitability margin is UAH 700 (US$24.67), while its price for Ukrainians is much higher.

However, even at a high price, Ukrainians inaccurate results often return. If Ukrainians get sick, they have to undergo tests several times, without any guarantee that the results will be true.

Experts say the reliability of test results depends on the equipment and reagents – the more sensitive reagent is to the virus, the more accurate the result will be.

Read alsoStepanov: Health sector needs financing at 5% of GDP to start "coming out of coma"However, the capital's clinics claim they use European reagents, while refusing to provide any documents to back their claims.

Lab staff say information is "confidential."

Cheap tests costing UAH 60 (US$2.11) have now started flowing into Ukraine from Russia and China. They show a false negative result.

According to experts, such cheap tests can be found in expensive private laboratories. Recently, private laboratories are increasingly purchasing European tests. However, their price cannot exceed UAH 350 (US$12.34) apiece.

Serdiuk says tests for coronavirus are a marketing ploy, as their price is inflated many times.