Previously, the Kronoberg region's microbiology department was responsible for analyzing antibody tests. But at the beginning of August, the responsibility for the analyzes falls on the shoulders of the clinical chemistry department - and the machine, as a normal weekday, analyzes 10,000-20,000 tests.

- It is a machine that can detect antibodies to covid-19 in the blood and which has the ability to analyze several other samples as well, says Annika Petersson, operations manager for the clinical chemistry department in the Kronoberg region.

The fact that the clinical chemistry department is now taking over the responsibility means that the capacity to analyze samples for antibodies to covid-19 is greatly increasing.

- These automated instruments that we have today are a prerequisite for us to be able to analyze on a broad front, says Annika Petersson.

"May need to prioritize other"

Since the machine performs all possible antibody assays, the assays for covid-19 in particular may be given lower priority for other assays of a more acute nature.

- We perform other analyzes in this machine as well, so the tests that we can dedicate to the antibody tests for covid-19 depend on how much else we get in and which we may have to prioritize over the antibody tests for covid-19, says Annika Petersson.

- But our assessment is we have a very high capacity. We will have time to analyze all the antibody tests for covid-19 that the region's residents need.

Depending on staff

But just because the analysis capacity increases, as the region begins to use the analysis machine, does not mean that the actual sample capacity reaches the same level. The test capacity is in fact largely dependent on the fact that there are staff who can take the samples.

- I think that the analysis capacity is higher than the test capacity at the moment because it is summer time and the operations have a limited staff, says Annika Petersson.

The Kronoberg region is expected to be able to offer antibody tests to the public at the beginning of August at a cost of SEK 200. An exact start date for the antibody tests has not yet been determined.

In the player above, Annika Petersson shows the machine that will analyze the antibody tests.