Coronavirus: PCR tests to cost Dh85 at all Seha testing centres in Abu Dhabi

The Abu Dhabi Health Services Company has gradually reduced the cost of the test over the past months

A medic tests a passenger in the back of a taxi at the drive-through screening centre at Mina Rashid in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Staff at Dubai's Mina Rashid centre test drivers. Chris Whiteoak / The National

People wait to be tested for Covid-19 at City Walk's drive-through screening centre in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Drivers queued for at least two hours to be swabbed. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Mina Rashed screening centre manager Dr Mohanna Hasan said most people were getting tested to enter Abu Dhabi or to fly abroad. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The work is difficult in the heat as medics work their way through hundreds of cars. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The price of a PCR at all Seha testing centres in Abu Dhabi has been cut to Dh85, it was announced on Saturday.

The Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha) has gradually reduced the cost of the test over the past months.

At the start of the outbreak, the standard price for a PCR test in the UAE was Dh370. This was reduced to Dh250 in September.

A few weeks later, clinics in Abu Dhabi dropped the price to Dh180, while government-run hospitals in Dubai offered PCR nasal swab tests for Dh150.

Last month, clinics gave special bundle offers of three PCR tests for Dh270.

The new offer by Seha applies to single tests and people do not have to buy a package to get a reduced price.

Many companies have made a negative PCR test result a requirement 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.