Faced with laboratories congested by the demand for tests, Professor Jean-Claude Azoulay explains to the microphone of Europe 1 his measures to streamline the system and better fight against the coronavirus epidemic.
According to the vice-president of the National Union of Biological Physicians, it is essential to prioritize the tests.
INTERVIEW
Day after day, the queues are growing in front of the laboratories that carry out PCR tests against the coronavirus.
"The average delay in rendering results is of the order of one week", explains Tuesday on Europe 1 Professor Jean-Claude Azoulay, vice-president of the National Union of Biological Physicians.
The professional of the sector, who deplores a real "congestion" despite the great testing capacities, launches at the microphone of Sébastien Krebs some avenues to reduce the result times for patients.
The challenge of testing in 24 hours
"We absolutely have to get back in place to deliver results within 24 hours. It is essential to be able to fight the epidemic and avoid a recovery," says Professor Jean-Claude Azoulay.
The first solution he recommends is not to carry out the tests too long after the sample is taken.
"It seems unnecessary to me to do all the results more than four days," he said.
"As long as we look behind us and carry out daily tests on samples that were taken four, five, six or seven days before, we will not be able to react to the epidemic."
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The vice-president of the National Union of Biological Physicians proposes, for people who have been tested, that they be part of "priority category 2 to benefit, if they wish, from a rapid PCR test in 24 hours, which will set the record straight, "explains the specialist.
The doctor at the center of the game?
As for the priority category 1, which are symptomatic people, "it is essential to have a test with a response within 24 hours".
For these people, "we are going to put time slots for patients that the government has defined as priorities. For these patients, we will have enough tests because we have daily capacities of 220,000" samples, assures Professor Jean-Claude Azoulay.
Next come the people who have to travel and therefore test negative for the coronavirus.
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Finally, "if you haven't met anyone, if you don't travel, if you stay at home, there's no point in taking the risk of queuing for that," recalls Professor Jean-Claude Azoulay.
In all cases, says the professional, it is necessary "that we put the doctor in the middle of the chessboard to be able to channel the requests", with possible prescriptions for tests carried out specific time slots.