3 for Dh270: UAE clinics offer bundle deals on Covid-19 PCR tests

Foreign travel and entry to Abu Dhabi have led to demand for cheaper and more efficient tests

Medical staff test patients for Covid-19 at the Advanced Centre for Daycare Surgery in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari for The National

The waiting area at MenaLabs Medical Laboratory in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari for The National

A lab technician carries out tests for Covid-19 detection at MenaLabs Medical Laboratory in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari for The National

A lab technician carries out tests for Covid-19 detection at MenaLabs Medical Laboratory in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari for The National

A lab technician wears a protective suit and face shield as she carries out PCR testing at MenaLabs Medical Laboratory in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari for The National

Medical staff run Covid-19 tests at MenaLabs Medical Laboratory in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari for The National

Medical staff run Covid-19 tests at MenaLabs Medical Laboratory in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari for The National

Medical staff test patients for Covid-19 at Advanced Centre for Daycare Surgery. Khushnum Bhandari for The National

Medical staff run Covid-19 tests at MenaLabs Medical Laboratory in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari for The National

Mahmoud Juma, chief executive of Advanced Centre for Daycare Surgery. Khushnum Bhandari for The National

A medic puts on personal protective equipment before testing a patient for Covid-19 at Advanced Centre for Daycare Surgery. Khushnum Bhandari for The National

A medic tests a patients for Covid-19 at Advanced Centre for Daycare Surgery. Khushnum Bhandari for The National

Clinics have begun offering discount packages for nasal swab PCR tests as demand for screening continues to grow across the UAE.

Many companies have made a negative PCR test result mandatory for staff returning to offices and Abu Dhabi's updated border rules require up to three negative nasal swab results if an individual enters and stays in the emirate for at least eight days.

Since the new entry rules were announced this month, clinics have begun competing to provide the best rates.

At the start of the outbreak, the standard price for a PCR test was Dh370. This was reduced to Dh250 in September. A few weeks later, clinics in Abu Dhabi dropped the price further to Dh180 while government-run hospitals in Dubai were offering PCR nasal swab tests for Dh150.

The reason prices have been dropping is because, in the beginning, there were very few centres equipped with testing devices

Now, special offers for bundles of three PCR tests mean people will spend Dh83 for each nasal swab.

The Advanced Centre for Daycare Surgery in Abu Dhabi offers one PCR test for Dh155, two for Dh185 and a package of three for Dh270.

“After the decision was announced, we realised that Abu Dhabi residents travelling to Dubai will typically need to conduct three PCR tests; one before going and two after returning, so I thought of introducing a special rate for multiple tests,” said Mahmoud Juma, chief executive of the centre.

The centre began Covid-19 testing in July and would receive up to 200 people for screenings daily.

“Since we announced package earlier this week, the number has tripled,” he said.

“And we expect it to reach more than 1,000; we have the capacity to do up to 5,000 tests a day.

“We expect PCR testing [requirements] to last for long, there is a fear of another big [coronavirus] attack, most European countries already announced that.”

Mr Juma said reducing the prices of tests would not compromise their quality because the nasal swab remained a straightforward process.

“The reason prices have been dropping is because, in the beginning, there were very few centres equipped with testing devices.

“With flight and movement restrictions, we could not acquire devices until July.

“But when more centres started offering tests, the prices consequently dropped.”

Vinod Kumar, an Abu Dhabi resident, was tested at the centre on Tuesday.

“I get tested frequently because I travel to Dubai once a week; we have a project there,’ said the 45-year-old technical engineer from India.

“I used to get tested at another centre but I read about the offer so I came here today.”

MenaLabs, which provides testing services in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Dubai, has also introduced discount packages.

A single test costs as low as Dh99 while a package of two tests costs Dh170 and a bundle of three is Dh250.

“In a week we receive between 2,000 to 3,500 test-applicants in each branch,” said Dr Mohamad Al Nahas, chief executive of MenaLabs.

“And the numbers are increasing because of the new decision.”