For several weeks, laboratories have been facing long lines of customers waiting for a test for the coronavirus.
Annie, who must present a valid test before an operation, deplores the current organization.
Faced with the impasse in which the French coronavirus screening strategy currently finds itself, should the method be reviewed?
On Europe 1, Tuesday, Professor Jean-Claude Azoulay, vice-president of the National Union of Biological Physicians, assured that it was necessary.
Faced with the influx of patients in overwhelmed laboratories, the specialist therefore recommends, to unclog the structures, that the laboratories get rid of samples not yet analyzed and dating more than four days, and therefore become obsolete.
Some estimates put the number of tests to be discarded at 500,000.
When we know the price, 76 euros each, the bill rises to 38 million euros at the expense of Medicare.
"As long as we are going to look behind us and carry out tests every day on samples that were taken four, five, six or seven days before, we will not be able to react to the epidemic," laments Jean-Claude Azoulay.
>> LIVE -
Coronavirus: follow the evolution of the situation Tuesday, September 22
In recent weeks, the situation has worsened.
While the average wait for results was 48 hours a few weeks ago, it now takes around 7 days in major cities to know if you are positive or negative.
But this period can extend even more, as for Anne who had nevertheless provided herself with a prescription, and must have a result before undergoing an operation.
CORONAVIRUS ESSENTIALS
> Coronavirus screening: second wave, second failure
> When do we have contact?
And other questions that we ask ourselves every day
> What are the "antigenic" tests, now authorized by the government?
> Coronavirus: the 5 mistakes not to make with your mask
> Coronavirus: from what age should you have your child tested?
"I have to pass an important medical examination, it is postponed since I could not present the PCR test in time", she tells the microphone of Europe 1. "In my state, I may be a suspicion of cancer ", she specifies, before deploring the" completely shocking "situations.
Moreover, this patient will have to redo a test, because beyond 7 days, her result is no longer valid.
A 24-hour test "imperative" for symptomatic people
How to remedy this?
On Europe 1, the biologist Jean-Claude Azoulay recommends going even further in the prioritization of tests.
The vice-president of the National Union of Biological Physicians proposes, for people who have already been tested but whose test is obsolete, that they be part of "category 2 priorities to benefit, if they wish, from a rapid PCR test in 24 hours, which will set the record straight, ”explains the specialist.
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.