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The COVID-19 test is available in more and more private health centers, where we can be absolutely sure that we have contracted the dreaded infection. However, there is a significant difference between the tests, which is reflected not only in quality and price, but also in the possible consequences of a positive result.
The authorities only accept the results of one type of test, the PCR test also recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). If someone undergoes such a test and shows a positive result, regardless of whether they have undergone a private examination on their own or have been found to be infected through tests ordered by the authority, they should be quarantined .
However, the head of the health center we interviewed said that many people opt for cheaper rapid tests, that although they detect the infection with results approximately as accurate as PCR tests, the authorities do not register these cases, so they do not there is a quarantine obligation.
What is wrong with that?
The only thing is, based on the data we also provide on a daily basis, it is not possible to get an accurate picture of how many coronavirus patients with positive tests there are currently in Hungary. Infections identified by tests other than PCR do not appear in the statistics and neither assessors nor patients are required to report to authorities.
In the so-called institution, for example, they said that between 5 and 10 percent of those examined were indeed infected, but a third remained hidden from the authorities, without being registered.
So why do many people choose the rapid test?
There can be several reasons for this. The first is the price: while the price of a PCR test is about 20-30 thousand florins, the price of rapid tests is between about 8-14 thousand florins.
The other reason is time, because the official test results arrive from the laboratory after 1-2 days, in addition, it is necessary to carry out 2-3 follow-up tests in such a case before someone is registered as infected. In contrast, rapid tests can detect if someone is infected after as little as 15 to 20 minutes. Not to mention that the capacity is also very limited, on average 7-800 tests a day can be tested in a laboratory, but more and more infected people will also mean an increasing number of tests, so it will take even longer to evaluate them.
What is the advantage?
Rapid antigen tests are not helpful because they can avoid mandatory quarantine. Many people go to the store, school or work without any symptoms, but spread the coronavirus in their environment. The goal of rapid tests is to find out in as little as one hour, rather than days, if someone is a carrier of the virus. If the result is positive, remove yourself from social contact as soon as possible to protect others from the risk of infection.
It’s not the tests that are bad, it’s what
We also asked the head of the health care institution who told our article that if there is no significant difference between the effectiveness of the tests, then what could cause a false result? The answer is simple: ourselves. According to him, the error does not usually occur during testing, but during sampling. Therefore, it is important to follow the specifications during the various tests.
For PCR tests, for example, eating, eating, smoking, brushing teeth and rinsing the mouth are prohibited 8 hours before sampling, while these should be omitted one hour before rapid tests if you do not want to obtain a false result.
We show in a flow chart what happens to us under the new rules if an infection is suspected. It is complicated, but we will guide you.
(Cover image: A man’s nasal mucosa sample is taken to detect coronavirus infection in Kecskemét on May 7, 2020. Photo: Csaba Búc / MTI)
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