PCR tests: many paths and patience are required
Coronavirus
After the test misery in Salzburg, numerous pharmacies have resumed PCR tests. The evaluation of the home gargle tests of the Novogenia laboratory is still delayed. It takes many paths before such a test can make it into the evaluation.
Step one: pick up a test kit at the supermarket. Before doing this, you have to register and log in on the Internet. A time window of 20 minutes opens in which the test tubes have to be picked up from the nearest supermarket. This is a piece of cake for smartphone-savvy people – but a serious hurdle for others. Once it’s done, it’s time to gargle.
Last step: return the sample to the supermarket and then wait for the test result. There are also delays of more than 48 hours in the workplace one week after the introduction of the 3-G rule. Novogenia does not explain why test results are still late or not at all – the biotech company based in Eugendorf (Flachgau) offers interview requests.
PCR tests in ten pharmacies
On the other hand, the PCR tests in ten pharmacies in the state of Salzburg have picked up speed again. Kornelia Seiwald, President of the Salzburg Chamber of Pharmacists, said: “We really have ten difficult days behind us because the PCR test system has collapsed. Thankfully, antigen testing was possible in all Salzburg pharmacies and so we were able to bridge this difficult time. “
Overloaded laboratories
The laboratories were overloaded: With 25,000 PCR tests per day, the largest private laboratory in Salzburg-Lehen has reached its limits and has prioritized its core business – the tests ordered by the authorities. The evaluation time here is seven to 16 hours. Georg Mustafa, specialist in laboratory diagnostics and managing director of Medilab: “I think we are doing very well there. We rely on individual tests right from the start because this also makes sense for official tests. We have a positive rate of 70 to 80 percent in the worst time. “
High demand for PCR in test lanes
In the coming weeks, samples from 60 pharmacies will be evaluated again, according to Mustafa: “I think there were a lot of misunderstandings – some people who were dying wanted to be tested and said that free testing would be possible through a pharmacy. In fact, however, self-testing is only possible via official channels. ”The Red Cross test roads in the state of Salzburg are currently not feeling the lockdown and thus fewer tests. The demand for PCR tests is as high as in the last few weeks: 95 percent of the tests are evaluated within 36 hours, they say.