Throughout the summer, the Covid-19 screening centers were stormed by the Ile-de-France residents. Young and old alike. "There are the children who spent a day at the leisure center with a facilitator who tested positive for Covid-19, then there are also the 25-45 year-olds who have been in contact with a positive person in their company", details with France 24 the info service line of the Ministry of Health.

In the Delafontaine hospital center in Saint-Denis, in the suburbs of Baris, the wave began with the first departures on vacation. "Many came to be tested a few days before taking the plane for the DOM-TOM", specifies France 24 Caroline *, a laboratory assistant. France requires a negative test carried out less than 72 hours before the flight for travelers going to Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion, Saint-Martin, Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon. "They are completely stressed at the idea of ​​not being able to leave", adds the young woman. Some countries, such as the United States, the United Arab Emirates or even Morocco - before the closure of its border on August 16 - have imposed the same instructions, forcing the French to be tested.

Over 600,000 tests every week

In August, more than 600,000 tests are carried out every week in France - against nearly 500,000 in July. This is mainly the virological PCR test (which stands for Polymerase Chain Reaction, or polymerase chain reaction), carried out by inserting a cotton swab into the patient's nose. It detects the presence of the virus when the test is performed. Its cost, fully covered by Health Insurance: 54 euros.

It is also possible to be tested serologically, from a blood test in the laboratory, to look for antibodies to the virus and to find out if you have been infected in the past. The prescription is necessary to be reimbursed (its cost: around 10 euros). Others, called TROD (for rapid diagnostic orientation test), have been available in pharmacies since July 11 with a result within ten minutes (Its cost: around 20 euros). Saliva tests are still being studied. The sale of Covid-19 self-tests remains prohibited in France.

France offers virological and serological tests to screen for Covid-19. © solidarites.sante.gouv.fr

Since the start of the epidemic, the government has intensified its screening policy: after giving priority to people at risk and to nursing staff in April, the Minister of Health Olivier Véran began a screening campaign in May. on a large scale by offering it to all French people. To facilitate the process, the latter announced on July 25 that it was no longer necessary to have a prescription or to show symptoms to perform a test.

Result: laboratories find themselves cornered by requests. In a laboratory in the 13th arrondissement, staff have been forced to adapt to their patient base by agreeing to screen every day. "Before the summer, the Covid tests took place by appointment only on Wednesdays", specifies to France 24, Marie *, one of the laboratory assistants. The work overload also caused a delay in the results: up to more than 72 hours, instead of 24 to 48 hours initially.

"People come to stay without thinking"

Today, Marie especially regrets the lack of communication concerning the modalities of the tests. "People come to be tested without thinking when it is necessary to wait five to seven days after the last contact with the infected person", she specifies, adding that such situations can create "false negatives". On the other hand, if the infected person is under the same roof as the patient, screening can be done immediately. 

"This anguish, this stress, this pressure ... it comes from the media", gets carried away Véronique *, a biologist from another "saturated" Parisian laboratory. The group records 2,000 Covid tests per day in Ile-de-France. "If we present pathological signs, if we are in a cluster, I understand that we come to be tested, but how to explain that some return three times? How to explain that airlines require that the tests be carried out 72 hours before the theft? People call us to ask us to change the hours ... here is where we are ", laments the biologist who does not hide" her exasperation ".

"Tests have become a consumer good"

In its massive screening campaign, the government also plans to expand the list of nursing staff authorized to take such samples. A state-certified nurse, a nursing assistant, a medical student, a firefighter or even a first-aid worker are now authorized to take these tests.

But for Véronique, the problem rests more on the free screening which made the tests a "consumer good". In his laboratory today, it is the young people who come to be tested the most. "They are coming out of a wedding or a family reunion," she sighs. Meanwhile, the seniors, whom she calls "the sacrificed of the Covid", are only 15% to cross the threshold of the door of her laboratory.

Instead of strengthening screening, Véronique would have preferred a "real testing strategy". Before adding: "And now a question arises: who will pay? And when?"   

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