Faced with the influx into laboratories to be tested against the coronavirus, the government is relying on so-called "antigenic" tests.

Very fast, the latter make it possible to know if a person has contracted Covid-19 in just a few minutes, compared to 48 to 72 hours for the PCR test. 

DECRYPTION

Is it soon the end of the endless queues in front of the laboratories to be tested for the coronavirus, as well as that of waiting for the results?

This is what one might believe, since the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, announced this Tuesday morning during an interview on France Inter that 100,000 rapid screening tests, known as "antigenic" tests, will be deployed at starting this week in Île-de-France.

Main improvement of these tests: the speed of the results. 

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A result in 15 to 20 minutes

Exit 48 to 72 hours before having the result of a PCR test.

With this new technique, it only takes "15 to 20 minutes", explained the minister.

Unlike PCR tests which detect the genetic material of the coronavirus, the antigen test spots virus proteins within minutes.

To do this, the sampling step remains the same, with a swab in the nose.

But then you just have to put it on a strip soaked in a reagent to get the result in a few minutes.

A method reminiscent of pregnancy tests. 

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A promising test, but still experimental

The antigen test is therefore an interesting tool for quickly sorting probably contaminated people, in airports or at hospital reception for example.

While several laboratories are working on this new technique, it is currently only used on an experimental basis in France.

The Parisian caregivers of the AP-HP will therefore have to check the performance of this antigenic test in the field from Wednesday, with the delivery of these 100,000 new tests.  

Work on "prioritization"

A new strategy with a new tool therefore, while a million tests per week are now carried out in France.

"We can not further increase - in any case not massively - the number of tests, so it is on the prioritization that we must work" to reduce the deadlines for priority people, justified Olivier Véran.

"A person who is symptomatic, a person who is in contact, must be tested as a matter of urgency. There is no way she will be turned away from a laboratory because there would be no room. is not possible. "

And to conclude: "On this, we will work even more because I consider that it is abnormal."