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Expert warns: There are limits to extending the tests - "Only the beginning of the pandemic"

2020-04-07T15:33:41.488Z


Antibody tests are not always correct and an extension of tests can reach its limits: The virologist Christian Drosten provides information in the NDR podcast.


Antibody tests are not always correct and an extension of tests can reach its limits: The virologist Christian Drosten provides information in the NDR podcast.

  • Scientists * are planning extensive antibody tests
  • However, your results are not always correct
  • Virologist Christian Drosten provides answers to the current situation

Munich - Research on the coronavirus * is currently very busy: a vaccine * is under high pressure. The use of antibody tests is also to be introduced on a broad scale. The virologist Christian Drosten explains in a daily NDR podcast about the use of such tests.

But first he goes into the question of the previous and current corona tests. "How resilient are they?" Asks editor Korinna Hennig . After all, the Robert Koch Institute and John Hopkins University provide up -to- date figures every day - but these differ from each other *. This is due to the sources used, says Drosten. Basically, one can use the figures of the RKI to assess the pandemic. The virologist considers criticism of the institute to be “totally unfair”. However, the virologist is critical of increasing the tests .

Corona virus: An extension of the tests is only of limited use

Many experts are currently demanding “testing, testing, testing,” says Korinna Hennig. But Drosten considers this measure to be of limited use. Because like in other areas there are bottlenecks in the deliveries . Simple swab swabs, for example, or reagents that are necessary for a separate laboratory process to obtain the pure genetic material are not available indefinitely. The essential reagents are also a “limited market, which cannot be increased arbitrarily in their production.”

The expert therefore believes that it is urgently necessary to focus the tests . But where are these necessary? In hospitals , with patients and staff as well as with people with a risk factor . Often, high-risk patients * are isolated at home, but an outbreak and the associated worsening of the disease can occur very suddenly. A hospital stay could then be too late.

Corona virus: Expert advises to focus the tests

Monitoring by the family doctor by phone call, smears with “corona taxis” and involving the hospitals would be the solution. These measures would be necessary - but not possible. Such a huge amount of work cannot increase exponentially like the "virus." A digital solution via app could help in this case, the expert says.

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* merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital network.

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2020-04-07

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