The photo has been used for illustrative purposes.

The Dubai’s COVID-19 Command and Control Centre has issued the first update of laboratory testing standards for the virus, to ensure the highest levels of safety and quality for COVID-19 testing services in health facilities licenced by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA).

While results of COVID-19 screening at any unaccredited laboratory would be unacceptable in the Emirate of Dubai, the Centre confirmed.

The Command and Control Centre has determined 17 laboratories in Dubai to conduct the tests, while called on the public to refrain from using point-of-care testing (POCT or bedside testing) or the rapid test.

These ways allow patients to conduct such tests in home or anywhere, like the pregnancy test.

It also indicated that health facilities and clinical laboratories must conduct a serological antibody test as specified in the recommendations for the serological test for COVID-19 published by the National Testing Committee, without obtaining prior approval from the DHA.

Disclaimer should be mentioned at the end of reports for negative and positive results, and that the COVID-19 serology tests should not be used as a "passport of immunity," the Centre added.

It explained that COVID-19 testing services are limited to DHA laboratories, clinical laboratories at hospitals, and independent clinical laboratories after obtaining the DHA approval.

“COVID-19 test should only be requested by a DHA licenced doctor, in accordance with the national clinical guidelines and based on priority testing standards,” the Centre added.

The Command and Control Centre should update the test standards regularly.

For the suspected COVID-19 cases, the attending physician must give clear and comprehensive instructions to patients regarding self-quarantine until the results are reported, it added.

The guiltiness also included that the attending physician is responsible for informing patients of the test results and providing the necessary information and guidance based on national guidelines.

“All health facilities must adhere to the fixed service price for the COVID-19 test, which is Dhs370 (including VAT), and to refrain from adding any additional fees to deliver the test result such as delivering it via telephone, calling, SMS, or a VIP service etc,” the Centre added.

The 17 accredited labs by the DHA are: Agiomix in Al Barsha, Al Zahra Private Hospital in Al Barsha, American Hospital in Oud Metha, CPS Clinical Pathology Services (MenaLab) in Al Quoz 4, Emirates Hospital DHCC Laboratory in DHCC, Eurofins Biominis in Al Bada, Freiburg Medical Laboratory in Al Karama, Iranian Hospital Lab in Al Bada, Latifa Hospital Virology Lab in Oud Metha, Mediclinic Hospitals Group in Dubai, Medsol Dubai medical Laboratory in Al Muraqqabat, National Reference Laboratory in Al Barsha South 2, Pure Health at Dubai Airport, UniLabs Clinical Laboratories in Jumeirah, Star Metropolis Clinical Laboratory in Al Hamriya, Viafet Genomic Laboratory in Al Badaa, and York Diagnostic Laboratories In JLT.