The laboratories in Armenia that are conducting PCR tests for the coronavirus have had drastic changes in pricing policy during the year.

The State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition shall examine and determine how objective these changes were, health minister Anahit Avanesyan told reporters Thursday. During the proceedings, it will become clear already whether the actions of the laboratories were lawful or not, she added.

According to her, the self cost of these PCR tests depends on a number of components such as the cost of reagents, the cost of equipment being used, etc.

Also, as per the minister, a "complete laboratory system" must be introduced to carry out such tests, and since laboratories are for-profit organizations, they do not conduct these tests at self cost and must make a profit.

To note, by the order of the health minister, employees in Armenia who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 need to submit a negative PCR test result to their employers every seven days, the prices of these tests had varied from 5,000 to 20,000 drams during the year.