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Laboratories overwhelmed by PCR tests: will positive rapid tests soon be counted in the statistics?

2022-01-21T04:27:21.093Z


Laboratories overwhelmed by PCR tests: will positive rapid tests soon be counted in the statistics? Created: 01/21/2022 05:15 By: Tim Althoff The corona test centers are currently being visited a lot. © Leon Kuegeler/photothek.de via imago images Due to many infections, there is a lot of testing. This puts a particular strain on the laboratories that have to evaluate the PCR tests. Is there no


Laboratories overwhelmed by PCR tests: will positive rapid tests soon be counted in the statistics?

Created: 01/21/2022 05:15

By: Tim Althoff

The corona test centers are currently being visited a lot.

© Leon Kuegeler/photothek.de via imago images

Due to many infections, there is a lot of testing.

This puts a particular strain on the laboratories that have to evaluate the PCR tests.

Is there now a change in strategy?

Munich/Berlin - What we had to fear in other countries due to the corona situation is also becoming increasingly clear in Germany. The omicron variant* is highly contagious and is spreading faster and faster. Most recently, 139,000 cases were registered in Germany - this means that 139,000 PCR tests had to be evaluated. In addition, however, the contact persons of the positive cases have to be tested. The labs have long since been stretched to capacity.

“The laboratories work on the attack, day and night.

Last week we evaluated two million tests, more than ever before.

We must not be overloaded so that we don't lose track of the pandemic," warns Dr.

Michael Müller, CEO of the "Accredited Laboratories in Medicine", opposite the

picture

.

Sometimes people have to wait five days or more for their test results.

A condition that could cause many more new infections, especially at Omikron.

After all, many patients only go into quarantine when the test is definitely positive.

Corona virus: PCR tests are not always absolutely necessary

As a consequence, it is now being demanded that citizens rely more on the results of the rapid tests. A PCR test does not always have to be carried out. “Anyone who has been boosted and only has mild symptoms should consider whether a PCR test is really necessary. In the current situation with high virus spread, a high-quality, correctly used rapid antigen test is a sufficiently good means of finding infections," Müller continued.

In the event of a positive test, the infections would then have to be reported to the health department independently.

Contact persons would have to be informed and positive people should isolate themselves.

According to Müller, the entire tool kit is needed, not just the PCR tests.

This is one of the reasons why Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach is apparently planning that employees in the medical field should be prioritized for PCR tests.

In any case, according to Bild, the Federal Government is discussing turning away from the PCR tests.

For example, positive rapid tests could be officially counted as a corona case in the statistics.

So far, this has only been the case if a positive PCR result was determined.

(ta) *Merkur.de is part of IPPEN.MEDIA

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2022-01-21

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