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Since last week it has been possible to perform rapid antigen tests by general practitioners, a pharmacy in Vienna has also offered it for asymptomatic people. The tests were officially banned Tuesday afternoon. “Until it is legally clarified if pharmacies can offer rapid antigen testing, we unfortunately have to discontinue the offer,” said Marien Apotheke. Previously, the pharmacy was robbed by customers who wanted to get tested.
“Obviously, unconsciously, we made a supply gap visible, because the scale of the attack surprised us a bit,” pharmacist Karin Simonitsch said in an interview with the APA. There are few options for asymptomatic people to get tested quickly and cheaply. The Rapid Antigen Test provides a result in 15 minutes, but is not as specific as a PCR smear. The pharmacy had also emphasized that it is “just a supplement and in no way a replacement for PCR testing.”
“There is no solution for daily life”
“Ordinary people who want to visit their grandparents and have such a sense of responsibility,” Simonitsch reported, could get tested. Now “they are no longer offered a solution for everyday life,” criticized the pharmacist. “We all know that a rapid test is not very accurate or instantaneous,” he said. However, it would offer people some assurance, for example that they cannot infect family members during visits if they themselves are infected. Rapid tests were also used by cultural workers, for example in film or theater production, to be able to make safe samples.
The municipal health law department (MA 40) banned rapid tests on Tuesday lunchtime, Simonitsch reported. The room in which the paramedics and qualified nurses tested had only fresh air supply and no suction. “We are going to clarify this legally, until then unfortunately we will have to stop the offer,” said the pharmacist.
“There is a lack of political will to carry out these tests,” Simonitsch said. “I do not want and do not have to do the rapid tests on my own, but we have shown that there is a need, the population should have the opportunity,” said the pharmacist. Individuals have the option of having a PCR smear done at a laboratory at their expense, but this sometimes costs more than 100 euros. The pharmacy offered the rapid antigen test for € 24.90 – “cost coverage,” Simonitsch reported. “The weekend made it clear that the need for rapid tests is very high,” Simonitsch said, calling for test trails and rapid test options for the population.
