RT PCR test for COVID-19 in Hyderabad, Cost and Home Collection
At Pace Hospitals, we are equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic lab accredited by National Accreditation Board for testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). Our RT-PCR testing lab for COVID-19 is approved by The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi.
Request an appointment for RT-PCR test
RT PCR test - appointment
How to book RT-PCR test online?
People living in Hyderabad can book RT PCR test online at Pace Hospitals by following these steps:-
- For online booking, fill up the form - Request an appointment for RT-PCR test.
- After successful submission, kindly go to COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) RT-PCR Test Packages, select one out of 3 choices and proceed to pay.
- Visit Pace Hospitals, Hitech City in case of sample to be collected at hospital. For home collection, our team will co-ordinate and visit your place to collect swab samples.
- RT-PCR Test will take upto 24 hrs, you will receive message from Health Department, Govt. of Telangana once your rt pcr test report is ready. By following the link, you can download the report in PDF format.
- To know more, kindly call us at 04048486868
What is RT-PCR Test?
COVID Test RT PCR full form - Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction
RT-PCR test is used to detect the presence of the genetic material of COVID virus. The sample is collected by inserting a swab inside the nose and from the back of the upper part of the throat.
RT-PCR test is equally effective in detecting virus in asymptomatic patients, but it has its own set of limitations, which include the inability to measure the severity of the virus and the inability to predict the future complications of the virus.
COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) RT-PCR Test Packages
RT-PCR routine test can detect whether person is infected with coronavirus or not, whereas Triple Gene RT-PCR will help in detecting OMICRON variant of COVID-19 due to S-Gene absence in OMICRON variant. We are one of the few centers in Hyderabad, Telangana having facility to do "Triple Gene RT-PCR test".
COVID RT-PCR Routine Test
Rs 850
Test includes:
N-Gene CT VALUE, RdRp or ORF1ab Gene CT VALUE
Report time: 12 Hrs
*sample collection at hospital
Triple Gene COVID RT-PCR Test
Rs 1190
Test includes:
S-Gene CT VALUE,
N-Gene CT VALUE, RdRp or ORF1ab Gene CT VALUE
Report time: 12 Hrs
*sample collection at hospital
COVID RT-PCR Test Home Collection
Rs 1150
Test includes:
N-Gene CT VALUE, RdRp or ORF1ab Gene CT VALUE
Report time: 12 Hrs
*sample collection at home within 5 KMS from Pace hospitals
Difference between RT-PCR and Rapid Antigen Test
| Rapid Antigen Test | RT-PCR Test |
|---|---|
| Rapid Antigen Test is a form of ELISA test, meaning antibodies will be present on the strip which will adhere to the antigen (virus protein) if present on the sample. | RT-PCR test is a form of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). |
| Rapid Antigen Test can produce the result within 20 minutes. | RT-PCR Test process can take upto 24 hrs to produce the results. |
| Rapid Antigen Test is not accurate diagnostic tool, it can also show false negative result in a positive COVID patients. | RT-PCR test is 99% accurate in diagnosing positive COVID patients also those who all are asymptomatic. |
| Rapid Antigen Test can be only used as a screening test but not confirmatory test. | RT-PCR test can be used as a confirmatory test in a positive COVID patients. |
History of RT-PCR
It may seem new to us, but PCR was invented in Kary Mullis in 1984 and gave birth to real time PCR. Mullis insists this idea came to him in a flash as he was driving after work in California 1983. He eventually worked it out and came out with his findings in 1985 in ‘Issue of Science’. Subsequently he received a patent for it in 1987.
This process of rapid duplication of DNA over a short period of time also called as RT-PCR called PCR eventually became the backbone of many other scientific fields such as forensic, genetic, and medicine.

Mullis’ work has also been a derivative of Nobel Prize winner Hargobind Khorana’s work along with Nirenberg and Holley who contributed their research in the field of genetic coding. Khorana was the brain behind the synthesization of oligonucleotides.
What is PCR (polymerase chain reaction)?
PCR comprises three ingredients:
- The Template DNA-The DNA segment to be copied
- Oligonucleotides- oligonucleotides are short strands of DNA and are considered as primers for PCR.
- Key enzyme- thermo-resistant DNA polymerase (Taq) is then added.
- When these three ingredients are heated, The DNA segment to be copied gets dispersed into two strands. The mixture is then left to cool, and the primers attach themselves to the complementary sites on the template strands.
- DNA polymerase then begins to copy the template strands and adds nucleotides onto the end of the primer and produces two molecules of double-stranded DNA. The process is then repeated a few times and many copies of the original DNA are generated.
- This discovery led to Kary Banks Mullis getting awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1944 for his invention of PCR. He was honorably included in the National Inventors Hall of fame for his invention of PCR.
RT-PCR is an evolution of PCR which is used to detect COVID, Ebola, African swine fever, foot-and-mouth disease, etc. It uses the same process except the added step of reversification of RNA to DNA to allow for amplification. However, when it is performed conventionally, the RT-PCR report is obtained after the process of testing is concluded.
Frequently asked questions:
How much time RT-PCR test takes?
RT-PCR test takes nearly 8 to 12 hrs. But because of overburdening on the test center, it can take longer. Nowadays due to availability of test kits' laboratories are able to provide the RT-PCR test reports within 24 hrs. It is more accurate than other available tests for COVID-19; which is one of the reasons for the popularity of RT-PCR.
We Pace Hospitals are one of the few centers successfully performing Triple Gene RT PCR test in Hyderabad, doing home collection and also providing same day results to the people. RTPCR same day reports are helping people to start the treatment on priority in case, if they are detected positive with SARS-CoV-2 virus and its variants.
Is RT-PCR test painful?
RT-PCR test is not a painful but may result in discomfort, and it totally depends upon how the body responds to the Nasopharyngeal swab sample collection for coronavirus. Discomfort level may vary from person to person due to pain tolerance level. Nasal swab collection may result in nose pain, tears in eyes, coughing, sneezing, gagging that may remain for 20 mins to 3 hours in a person.
Who should go for RT-PCR test?
People, those who all are primary contact of positive COVID patients and / or having one of these symptoms such as Fever, Coughing, Tiredness or Fatigue, Loss of taste or smell, Sore Throat, Diarrhea, Rashes on the skin should go for RT-PCR covid test to confirm the SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Rapid antigen test or RT-PCR test, which is better?
RT-PCR test is better than rapid antigen test due to its accuracy and genetic sequence analysis of SARS-CoV-2. Rapid test may show false negative results whereas RT-PCR test is 99% accurate in diagnosing positive COVID patients.
What does COVID-19 RT PCR test positive report mean?
COVID-19 test RT PCR positive means that person is infected with SARS-CoV-2 (coronavirus). It is possible a person might be asymptomatic, mild or moderately infected with COVID-19, in this condition's person can take precautions and medical care with strict isolation to avoid spreading it to others. Whereas severely infected cases required hospitalization to get treatment.
Click here to get medical guidance for covid treatment at home
What does COVID-19 RT PCR test negative report mean?
COVID-19 test RT PCR negative means that the person is not infected with SARS-CoV-2 (coronavirus) at the time of testing. Close contact of positive COVID patients might not show positive test results during initial 2 to 3 days, whether they are asymptomatic or having symptoms. Sometimes test report might show false negative result, it is possible that swab sample collection was done properly, or a person recently got infected or developed symptoms.
If RT PCR test result is negative, it doesn’t mean that a person is completely safe. Following COVID precautions can only help a person to be safe from SARS-CoV-2 and continue taking precautions.
What to do if RT PCR test is negative but CT scan is positive?
HRCT scan is more accurate than RT PCR test. If RT PCR is negative and CT is positive means that the person is infected with SARS-CoV-2, in this case no need to repeat RT PCR test. A person should isolate immediately from others if symptoms developed during isolation, then treat the symptoms with proper medical guidance.
What to do if RT-PCR is positive, but no symptoms are there?
People, who all are close contact of positive COVID patients can show RT-PCR test positive result. In case if RT-PCR test is positive, but no symptoms are there, people should not worry about anything, they have to self-isolate themselves for 7 days. During self-isolation if started showing COVID symptoms like fever, runny nose, coughing, body pain should start treatment and if having no symptoms then strict self-isolation is the only treatment.
What to do if RT-PCR is positive after recovery?
Usually it will take some time to become RT-PCR negative because SARS-CoV-2 virus fragments are present in airways, that is the reason in positive COVID patients with mild symptoms RT-PCR is positive after recovery of 7 days and 14 days in moderately infected people.
People should not worry about the RT PCR positive results after recovery, they can continue their normal routine if completed 7 days of strict self-isolation. It is not mandatory to take RT PCR test after home quarantine period of 14 days after recovery from COVID.
What to do if rapid test is positive but RT-PCR is negative?
There is a possibility that rapid antigen test is positive but RT-PCR is negative, in this case RT-PCR test sample collection is not done properly, need to repeat the test again. In case of positive rapid antigen test, people should self-isolate and follow the guidelines as advised by your primary care physician.
Can RT-PCR test detect Omicron variant of COVID-19?
Yes, triple gene RT-PCR test can detect the Omicron variant of COVID-19 due to S-gene absence in Omicron variant. For example, in a positive covid patients if S-gene is not detected in RT-PCR report that shows the patient is infected with Omicron variant.
Watch here
What is the cost of RT-PCR in India?
The RT-PCR test price was initially capped at Rs 1,200 (one thousand two hundred only) for private hospitals in India and is further expected to come down with the testing kits, being produced by more manufacturers increasingly.
Average price of RT-PCR in India is approximately Rs 950 (nine hundred fifty only). However, cost of COVID RT-PCR test in India may vary from Rs 750 to Rs 1,200 (seven hundred fifty to one thousand two hundred) in different private hospitals, different diagnostic centers from different cities.
What is the price of RT-PCR test in Hyderabad?
Average price of RT-PCR test in Hyderabad is approximately Rs 850 (rupees eight hundred fifty only). However, COVID RT-PCR test price in Hyderabad may vary from Rs 700 to Rs 1,200 (rupees seven hundred to one thousand two hundred) in different diagnostic centers and private hospitals. Yet, it can be availed free of cost at government health centers and hospitals.
How to check RT-PCR report online in Telangana?
After giving swab sample at Pace Hospitals, you have to wait for 24 hrs to get the report. After successful lab reporting, you will receive the message from Health Department, Govt. of Telangana that -
"test results updated as Positive or Negative" with link of RT-PCR report pdf file format,
simultaneously you will receive the link from Pace Hospitals to download the RT-PCR report.
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PACE Hospitals
Hitech City : Beside Avasa Hotel, Pillar No. 18, Hyderabad - 500081
Madinaguda: Mythri Nagar, Beside South India Shopping, Madinaguda, Hyderabad - 500050
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