By Laura Kemp • Published: 26 Mar 2020 • 9:15
The anticipated and fervently talked about quick coronavirus tests are not functioning properly. The government was hoping to use these to begin testing larger proportions of the population and figure out what the ‘real’ level of infection is here in Spain.
Various microbiology laboratories from large hospitals have been analysing the recently arrived quick test kits. The results from the preliminary studies have been disheartening: “They don’t detect positive cases like we hoped they would”, highlighted a source who participated in the trials.
The quick tests, made by the Chinese company Bioeasy, only has a sensibility of 30 per cent, when it should be superior than 80 per cent. One of the microbiologists who analysed the test assured: “With this level of sensibility, it doesn’t make sense to use the tests”.
Experts from the Salud Carols III Institute communicated that after evaluating the quick test kits, they will need to continue using the original PCR tests, which take much longer to deliver results.
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Originally from UK, Laura is based in Axarquia and is a writer for the Euro Weekly News covering news and features. Got a news story you want to share? Then get in touch at editorial@euroweeklynews.com.
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