Pharmacies have been authorized since Saturday to carry out rapid diagnostic orientation tests (TROD) which allow to know, in a few minutes, if antibodies have been produced against the new coronavirus, according to a decree published in the Official Journal. " Exceptionally (...) pharmacists (...) can perform rapid diagnostic orientation tests on capillary blood for the detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 ", indicates the text of the 'decree, which is " applicable until October 30 ".
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TROD serological tests consist of taking a drop of blood by pricking the skin, usually at the fingertip, and then putting it in contact with a reagent. The result appears in a few minutes. Until now, they could only be carried out by a medical analysis laboratory, in town or at the hospital.
A positive TROD test means that you have been exposed to the virus and that you have developed (or are in the process of developing) an immune response. A positive result must be confirmed in a biological laboratory by a blood test and a laboratory examination in order to specify the reality of the immune response and, possibly, by a virological test (RT-PCR) to check if the virus is still present. in the body and therefore, whether or not there is a risk of infecting other people.
A list of the 51 authorized tests of this type has been published by the Ministry of Health. Some detect only IgG antibodies (for immunoglobulins G), which are formed at least 14 days after being in contact with the virus, while others also indicate the presence of IgM (immunoglobulins M), produced earlier, which can be detected about a week after infection.
Pharmacists have been asking for weeks to be able to market these TROD tests, while unions of medical biologists have strongly opposed this possibility. In a press release dated July 3, several organizations of biologists warned authorities and the general public about the difficulties of use and the complexity of interpreting the results of these serological tests .