The goal of 100,000 tests a week has not been achieved

On March last, the Public Health Authority was commissioned by the government to help the regions increase the sampling of covid-19. In early April, Karin Tegmark Wisell, Head of the Public Health Authority, stated that within a few weeks 100,000 tests per week could be taken from suspected covid-19.

Last week, 75,000 such tests were conducted in Sweden.

- The figure 100,000 is a reasonable level to aim for, but it can be relevant with both higher and lower. The goal is appropriate testing, says Karin Tegmark Wisell.

The goal of expanding capacity has been around for a long time, do you think it is a satisfactory result, as it looks now?

- Right now I think it's a good result.

SVT News showed last week that only a minority of the regions could offer covid-19 tests for anyone who wants to test themselves. Who gets to test themselves still varies across the country, but according to Tegmark Wisell, a lot of testing capacity has happened in recent days. Next week, even more regions are expected to get started with large-scale testing.

- Most regions have now established or are in the process of establishing large-scale testing and that there are a few regions that have not yet had the opportunity to establish large-scale testing.

At the same time, it has taken longer than expected, says Tegmark Wisell.

- We probably underestimated some of the complexity. I didn't expect it to take that long.

In some cases, the regions have been awaiting the start of large-scale testing to avoid other health care being affected, according to Tegmark Wisell. It has also been difficult to quickly establish the required digital systems as well as problems with access to materials.

Initially, the problems were about test sticks - and the latest issue is the lack of sampling tubes.

- Every week, we look at the capacity of the laboratories to ensure that materials are available.