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Aesku started in 2000. Torsten Matthias, an expert in autoimmune diseases, founded the company with just five people.

Two years later, Aesku took part in the first trade fairs in Germany and Canada.

At the time, the company in Wendelsheim in Rhineland-Palatinate already had 80 products in its portfolio.

Today, Aesku develops and sells more than 320 tests and products for the early detection of allergies, autoimmune and infectious diseases in over 90 countries.

People from over 20 countries work in the company, which is still medium-sized with around 300 employees.

Aesku has long had branches in large markets such as the USA, Italy, Great Britain and China.

The founder, Torsten Matthias, is still running the company.

With the outbreak of the corona pandemic, it quickly became clear that, in addition to masks, medication and vaccines, one thing in particular was missing: a reliable test that could detect the virus.

And in sufficient quantities.

Self-tests are not allowed in Germany

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In the first few months in particular, there were only so-called PCR tests.

Swabs are taken deep from the throat and upper nasal cavity.

The test is very accurate.

As a rule, however, it takes one to two days to get the result.

It must also be carried out by medical personnel.

The PCR test is therefore unsuitable for quick checks in schools, old people's and nursing homes, before meetings and, for example, before starting a trip.

Quite apart from the fact that there is not enough of it.

Rapid antigen tests against the virus are now also available.

Almost 300 such tests are listed on the website of the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM).

The Swiss company Roche, which already supplies the PCR test, also offers an antigen test licensed by another company.

Overall problematic: For inexperienced laypeople it will be difficult to make the smears themselves.

That being said, self-tests at home are not yet allowed in Germany.

Hope in politics

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Aesku has now developed a rapid antigen test in which you only have to go 2.5 centimeters deep into your nose with the swab.

Turn five times - you are ready to take the sample.

"We had it tested by 18 to 24-year-old test persons," says company boss Matthias.

“There was no one who couldn't use it.” Then the sample is placed in a liquid.

This is placed on a test strip.

After a short waiting time you will have the result like a pregnancy test at home.

Those who are positive must then do a PCR test and report to the health department.

At least that is the idea of ​​Aesku.

The reality is different: The BfArM has just added the test to its list.

Without medical training, however, this does not help private individuals: "So far, in Germany - unlike in Austria, Switzerland and France - we have only been allowed to sell the tests to medical specialists," says Matthias.

Which seems nonsensical especially with the simple application of the test.

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Critics of rapid antigen tests repeatedly point out that they are not as reliable as PCR tests.

For private users, it is almost impossible to take the swab so deep in the throat.

But that is necessary because the majority of the corona viruses sit there.

A study by the Charité shows, however, that the use of nasal tests with prior instruction delivers reliable results.

The result of the study: If you consider how easy nasal tests are, patient self-tests at home could well be a method for the future.

The most important requirement: politics in Germany should allow it.

This text is from WELT AM SONNTAG.

We will be happy to deliver them to your home on a regular basis.

Source: Welt am Sonntag