Rapid tests to diagnose the emerging coronavirus (Covid-19) should be limited to cases of suspicion. What are the test methods? How is it going?
There are as yet no drugs and vaccine for the emerging coronavirus. It will take from 18 to 24 months until a vaccine is developed, verified, licensed by the medical authorities, and mass produced.
Therefore, reliable tests in the coming months are the least reasonable measure to reduce the frequency of the virus. With rapid tests, people can be detected and quarantined.
But medical institutions and laboratories - even in developed countries - when it comes to a wave of severe infections, collide quickly with limited capacity. Therefore, rapid tests must be limited to doubtful cases, and general testing is not feasible and useless.
Who is taking the test?
Residence in a risky area is not sufficient at current discretion to warrant a test. It cannot be said that every person who suffers from a cold or a cough is infected with the Coronavirus.
But whoever has symptoms of pneumonia due to germs and reveals apparent symptoms such as coughing, fever or difficulty breathing and has had contact with an infected person or that he has resided in a particular danger area, this represents a justified case of suspicion.
It remains to be determined by the doctor that it is necessary to test whether the Corona virus. And randomly, patients are examined with symptoms of cold, according to the Robert Koch Institute, and the costs of the examination is 200 euros ($ 225) borne in Germany by health insurance companies, but only when the doctor classifies patients a questionable case.
How is the test?
The test is most often done by taking samples (swabs) from the patient's throat or from his nose. The Robert Koch Institute recommends, when the suspected case, samples not only from the upper respiratory tract, but also from deep respiratory passages such as bronchial or lung secretions.
What do you get with the samples?
The samples are subject to tests on the Corona virus in laboratories. This type of test lasts five hours, and is a traditional method in the laboratory.
How are the persons concerned informed?
In the event that there is a positive result of the examination, in addition to the patient, the relevant Ministry of Health shall be informed immediately and after that the quarantine shall come with the necessary isolation and protection measures. In cases of easy illness, patients can undergo isolation inside the home as long as they do not expose others to infection.
Are the tests clear?
Tests or a negative test do not completely deny the presence of a possible infection with the Coronavirus, because in the event that samples are taken or improperly transferred, they may be mistakenly issued as a negative result. Therefore, patients who are infected will be tested several times.