A test for everyone? The High Health Authority (HAS) said in any case in favor of reimbursement of certain serological tests for the coronavirus, "with validated reliability", in a notice published Wednesday evening.
This opinion in favor of taking charge of Health Insurance concerns "serological tests of the ELISA and TDR type with reliability established by the CNR" (national reference center) and according to "indications defined" according to this opinion.
Prescription of a doctor essential
For the French National Authority for Health, these tests must be prescribed by a doctor in special cases, in particular symptomatic patients followed by city doctors or hospitalized, patients who have not been the subject of virological tests and to detect presence of antibodies in healthcare professionals and collective accommodation staff (nursing homes, prisons, etc.).
Serological tests can tell if someone has had Covid-19, by checking to see if they have developed antibodies. They are based on blood tests. They are distinguished from virological tests, or PCR, which allow to say that a patient is infected at the time when they are carried out.
These tests must be performed from the 7th day following the onset of symptoms for hospitalized patients and from the 14th day for patients without sign of severity, specifies the HAS.
