PCR tests: No shortage so far, but that could change soon

Are PCR tests becoming scarce?

So far it doesn't look like it.

According to test stations and general practitioners, the material should not fail.

If the number of cases continues to rise, the results could be a long time coming, because the laboratories are working on the attack.

District of Weilheim-Schongau – At the beginning of the week, cars were jammed at the Weilheimer Volksfestplatz. The district's test station was well attended. "Mondays are generally always busier," says the head of the station, Dr. William Fisher. "But this Monday it was particularly bad." Around 250 PCR tests were taken in less than five hours - that's around 100 more tests than was previously the case per day.

Even though the number of tests is increasing every day, people in Weilheim are no longer waiting for their test results.

"We still get the negative results on a daily basis, between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.," says Fischer.

In the case of positive results, it would usually take until the next day, because then the laboratory would have to carry out a confirmatory test and differentiate the sample.

"So far, the country is not under," says Fischer.

However, if the number of cases continues to rise sharply, the procedure could soon take more time.

PCR tests: The laboratory works almost around the clock

The samples taken at the test station are sent to the AllgäuLab medical diagnostic laboratory in Kempten. The head of the laboratory, Dr. When asked, Josef Cremer confirmed that although the number of samples is clearly increasing, everything is still feasible at the moment. "We aim to get a result within 24 hours," he says. The laboratory is staffed from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on weekdays. On Saturdays, people work until the afternoon, and there are currently no PCR procedures on Sundays.

"Of course we don't know how massive the omicron wave will be," says Cremer.

Within the laboratory there is capacity in the form of additional staff or equipment that could be used if the numbers continue to rise sharply.

In previous waves, laboratory times were also extended in individual cases.

There have also been material bottlenecks in the past, but this is not the case at the moment.

The PCR process has to be set up manually and then runs semi-automatically.

The evaluation is carried out by specialist personnel.

"If you go through a sample stringently from A to Z, it takes about three hours until the first result is available," says Cremer.

PCR tests are also evaluated in the MVZ laboratory in Augsburg.

The Peitingen family doctor Dr.

Thomas Zybill works with this lavor.

"The results are still coming within 24 hours," he says.

Between ten and 20 PCR tests are carried out in his practice every day.

"A blatant increase is not yet felt," says the doctor.

"He's yet to come."

PCR tests: It becomes critical from an incidence of 1000

When the 7-day incidence in the district was around 1000 in late autumn, you had to wait up to two days for your test result.

"The laboratory warned us at the time that it could take longer." Zybill therefore assumes that as soon as the incidence climbs back towards the 1000 mark, we will have to be prepared for longer waiting times again.

Samples prioritized by the physician based on a medical indication will continue to be examined within 24 hours.

"But that's only a small number," says the doctor.

There are also PCR tests at the Karwendel test station in Orderding.

Cost point: 119 euros.

"Unfortunately, we have no way of charging for the tests free of charge," says Nina Hasenbalg-Glas, the operator of the station.

The tests are therefore only available for self-payers.

However, the result is also available within a few hours, but within a day at the latest.

At the beginning of December, the pharmacist bought two PCR test devices with "high acquisition costs" in order to be able to offer the tests on site.

"Before, we always sent the samples to the laboratory for analysis," says Hasenbalg-Glas.

But that would have taken too long at times.

PCR test: result within 30 minutes

"A test on our machines only takes half an hour," says the operator of the test station.

In fact, however, the demand determines how long you have to wait for your result.

Because only one sample can be analyzed per device.

A differentiation with regard to the virus variant is not possible in Oderding.

While there are currently no problems with the implementation of PCR tests in the district, the health ministers are already considering changing the corona test strategy.

In order to avoid overloading the laboratory capacities, a prioritization of PCR tests for certain groups such as those with symptoms or the elderly is under discussion.

In younger infected people who show no symptoms despite a positive rapid test, a PCR test in the laboratory could then be dispensed with.

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