The Ministry of Health has paved the way for a wider deployment of antigenic tests, which are faster than RT-PCR virological tests, by issuing a decree that conditionally authorizes their reimbursement by Social Security for people presenting symptoms.
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During his televised interview on Wednesday evening, Emmanuel Macron had recognized that “
we encountered real difficulties
” on the tests, with “
delays that were too long
” because of overwhelmed analysis laboratories.
In the wake of the Head of State, who promised a new "
strategy
" to "
drastically reduce the delays
", the Minister of Health Olivier Véran announced the next day that he hoped that "
within a few weeks a anyone who has a fever with respiratory signs can be tested directly at their doctor
'with these rapid tests.
Until now, antigenic tests were only allowed in the context of collective screening operations, people with symptoms were excluded, and their result had to be confirmed by an RT-PCR test.
According to a decree published on Saturday in the Official Journal, they can now be carried out in an “
individual screening situation
” by doctors, pharmacists or nurses.
They can be performed on "
asymptomatic people, outside contact people or people detected within a cluster
" or on "
symptomatic people
", but only if an RT PCR test cannot be obtained before 48 hours and if the antigen test takes place less than four days after the first symptoms.
In addition, in the event of symptoms, you must be under the age of 65 and not be at risk of developing a severe form of Covid-19.
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In addition, "
large-scale screening operations within targeted populations may be authorized
" by the prefect, according to the decree.
The High Authority for Health (HAS) had stressed that in the event of a positive antigen test, it was very likely that the patient was indeed a carrier of the new coronavirus, but that in the event of a negative test, there was a small probability of passing next to infection, which is more of a consequence for patients at risk of developing a severe form of the disease.
In another decree, the ministry gives the green light for reimbursement of the act for authorized tests, the list of which is published on its site.
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The antigenic tests are also carried out from samples in the nostrils, by swab.
But unlike the RT-PCR test, which requires laboratory analysis, to detect the genetic material of the new coronavirus, the antigen test spots virus proteins in 15 to 30 minutes.
In addition, the ministry also authorizes the reimbursement of tests on oropharyngeal swab, that is to say by the throat, when the swab by the nose is "
impossible or difficult
", which may be the case for people affected. of a handicap.
