Here is the hospital's "Autobahn" - the treadmill analyzes thousands of coronate tests

Most of the county's coronate tests are done at the laboratory in Sunderbyn. Half of the tests are done using samples from nasal and pharyngeal incisions, they show ongoing infection of covid-19 and are called PCR tests. A test that is taken on all patients who are admitted to the county hospital regardless of symptoms right now.

According to the latest Norrbotten region statistics, about seven percent of those tested have an ongoing covid infection. When preparing the test, staff work on a safety bench to minimize the risk of infection.

- It feels safe, says Fiona Murray, who has protection on her hands and body but not on her face when she prepares for some of today's tests.

Kiruna, Gällivare and Piteå can now do quick tests to reduce the waiting time when the PCR samples are to be sent. Soon Kalix will also be able to do this type of quick test.

The other half of the tests are the so-called antibody tests. They are done to see if a person has already had the disease and developed antibodies. That test is done with the help of a blood test. At Sunderby Hospital they are done in an automated process which means that large quantities can be analyzed. The automation track is similar to a treadmill and has been named Autobahn after a vote by the staff.

- It allows us to run samples around the clock, says Helena Lilja, who is the unit manager in clinical microbiology and who has overall responsibility for all coronate tests that are done in Norrbotten right now.