(Karachi) In light of instructions issued by health authorities, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has declared seven laboratory tests equivalent to PCR-based test of COVID-19, media reported on Tuesday. The modification in standard operating procedures (SOPs) has been made for international passengers and flights.

In a notification, the aviation authority stated that seven tests will be considered as equivalent to PCR testing for detection of COVID-19. It stated that the updated version of SOPs is related to international passengers, chartered and private aircraft flights.

The notification added that passengers holding negative reports of any of the seven tests will be considered as fulfilling the requirements of RT-PCR testing in accordance with the defined regulations.

The seven tests are Real Time RT-PCR for Covid-19, Real Time RT-PCR for SARS-Cov-2, RT-PCR for COVID-19, RT-PCR for SARS-Cov-2, PCR for COVID-19, PCR for SARS-Cov-2, Xpert Xpress SARS-Cov-2 or SARS-Cov-2 GeneXpert.

The guidelines have been sent to airlines, operators, ground handling agents, authorised flights permission agents and directed to inform passengers who are willing to travel to Pakistan, the notification stated.