PCR tests: criticism of laboratories, growing chaos
The chaos in the PCR tests in schools is spreading in eight federal states. After numerous tests from schools could not be evaluated by Salzburg laboratories in the last few days, the laboratory community has not been able to process pharmacy tests from Upper Austria since Friday. Problems with databases are the cause.
The dissatisfaction in large parts of Austria with the Salzburg “Working Group for Molecular Diagnostics” is growing from day to day. Since Friday, 150 Upper Austrian pharmacies have not had any test results from the laboratory community from Zell am See (Pinzgau) and Bergheim (Flachgau).
Harsh criticism from the neighboring country
The thread of patience is already overstretched, says Thomas Veitschegger, President of the Chamber of Pharmacists in Upper Austria: “Problems keep popping up. The thread is slowly breaking. We also believe whoever has the implementation and best business relationships with this lab should also be given preferential treatment.”
Criticism also from the Ministry of Education
In addition to these complaints, the Ministry of Education also severely criticizes the Salzburg laboratory community for “insufficient and faulty school tests”. The company is responsible for eight federal states – only Vienna has commissioned its own laboratory.
Managing director Claudia Prantner-Lahr in Zell am See justifies herself with technical problems. After talks with the Ministry of Education and the ARGE for molecular diagnostics, an external expert is now to examine the laboratories. A computer specialist is to be deployed so that the technical problems can be solved in the current week, it is said.
