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Roche’s new rapid antigen test is here. According to the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), new tests to diagnose a coronavirus infection should also be possible as of November 2 in addition to previously known PCR tests. But what can the new test do and where is it used? BLICK answers the most important questions.
1. What is special about the rapid antigen test?
The most important difference from conventional tests: the rapid antigen test shows the result in 15 to 20 minutes. Until now, only the PCR tests have been used in Switzerland, which only showed the result after evaluation in the laboratory for a maximum of 72 hours. With the new test, more people can now be tested and access to tests is easier. But a Roche spokeswoman tells BLICK: “The PCR test is still the gold standard and much more accurate.” Rapid antigen tests give a less reliable result than PCR tests.
2. How safe is the quick test result?
According to Roche, the result is 97 percent safe. But only under the following conditions: The person must have a high viral load. If the viral load is low, the test is not sensitive enough to detect it, the Roche spokeswoman said.
3. How is the test done?
Like the PCR test, the test is taken with a nasopharyngeal swab. This is inconvenient and should be done by a healthcare professional. After that, the test result can be read on the site after a short waiting period without a laboratory examination.
4. Why can’t I take the exam alone?
You don’t need a lab to read the result. But the nasopharyngeal smear is not easy to perform and, according to Roche, must be performed by healthcare professionals. “It is also important that specialized personnel register the patient as a whole person, look at their history and consider other symptoms to decide if they still need the most reliable PCR test,” said the Roche spokeswoman.
5. Can I use the Roche test to coordinate my visits and vacation planning?
No. Just because the test is called a “quick test” does not mean that you will get a “reliable” result quickly. According to the BAG, the test should be used to detect more positive cases more quickly. Affected people are identified and isolated more quickly. Roche also recommends increasing the use of the test by medical personnel to prevent infection in this group of people.
6. What makes the test unsafe?
The incubation period of the virus can last several days. If you are infected in the morning, you cannot find an infection with any tests in the afternoon. Therefore, a quick test at the airport before departure would hardly provide the necessary security.
7. Where can I get the new proof?
Starting Monday, November 2, the rapid antigen test will be available in doctors’ offices, laboratories, pharmacies, hospitals, and at testing centers operated by or on behalf of the canton. The pharmacists association pharmaSuisse is already preparing: it plans a gradual roll-out and aims to get people with symptoms tested in one in three pharmacies before the end of the year.
8. Who pays for the test?
The federal government assumes the costs of the rapid antigen test. However, only for those people for whom BAG recommends testing. The price of a private sale has yet to be determined and may vary depending on where the testing is done. According to VIEW research, the price an individual must pay for the rapid test can range from 95 to 120 francs.
9. How many tests should there be?
The tests will be gradually introduced in the different cantons and the availability will increase in the coming weeks. According to Federal Councilor Alain Berset (48), 80,000 tests per day should be possible, 50,000 of which are new rapid tests. But: According to BAG, availability is limited in the introductory phase.
10. Why do we only have the proof now?
The pharmaceutical company Roche offered the tests to the federal government a few weeks ago. However, the latter allowed them to go through a validation phase before deciding to include the test in the country’s national Covid-19 testing strategy.
