Mayor Gergely Karra previously announced that the capital will commit to purchasing hundreds of thousands of antigen tests to help curb the epidemic. But according to the National Center for Public Health (NNK), rapid tests are not adequate for detecting infections.

Mayor Gergely Karácsony is wrong, rapid antigen tests are not adequate for detection, he told MTI on Sunday.

The NNK recalled that the capital city municipality had announced the acquisition of antigen tests and Gergely Karácsony stated that “rapid antigen tests are as reliable as PCR tests.” However, this is “a huge mistake and completely professionally unfounded,” they wrote.

It was emphasized that antigen testing does not trigger PCR testing and cannot be used for mass community screening, as those who are asymptomatic or show only mild symptoms have only small amounts of the virus, so it is likely that a quick test is false. it will show a negative result. “So the person being tested makes sure they did not contract the virus while infecting their environment, they added.

Attention was drawn to the fact that the use of an antigen test is recommended in patients with moderate to severe symptoms, since the extent of the disease is related to the amount of virus present in respiratory secretions. Antigen tests require the presence of large amounts of virus, including antigen (viral protein), to detect infection. The two tests are not comparable, so a separate procedure has been prepared for healthcare providers – read the NNK statement.

Gergely Karácsony announced on Wednesday that the capital’s local government is initiating an intensive expansion of testing capacity, and the collection of 100,000 antigen tests will be launched in a few days to curb the coronavirus epidemic. According to the mayor, this is necessary because the results of the PCR tests take time to arrive, in some social institutions they have to wait up to ten days and therefore cannot be effectively defended. As he himself said, he says that antigen tests are as accurate as PCR tests, but on the contrary, they have results almost immediately.

He added that residents and employees of municipal institutions are still the most important in the tests, but the capital municipality distributes 50 thousand tests among the districts in proportion to the population in order to provide all workers from particularly vulnerable sectors, including teachers and other ancillary workers in education. voluntary screening, highlighted the mayor.


The number of independent power editorial boards is steadily declining, and those that still exist are trying to stay afloat in a growing headwind. At HVG we persevere, we do not give in to pressure and we bring national and international news every day.

That is why we ask you, our readers, to stand by us, support us, join our membership and renew it!

And we promise to keep doing our best for you in all circumstances!