Covid in France: new screening tests to detect variants

While France has just fallen below the threshold of 5,000 daily contaminations, it is now possible for the health authorities to re-identify the chains of contaminations and to isolate sick people, in particular those infected with a variant carrying mutations.

© REUTERS - Stephane Mahe

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2 min

If the epidemic dynamic is going in the right direction in France, concern is still present, however, in particular because of the variants and more particularly the delta variant, which appeared for the first time in India.

More contagious, it circulates in the country, but the health authorities do not know precisely to what extent.

New PCR tests therefore come into force on Monday, June 14 to find out more.

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For the person who is tested, nothing changes in practice: the swab in the nose, the sample and the result a few hours later.

The difference is now being played out in analytical laboratories.

If the sample is positive, a second test is performed, a so-called screening test.

This existed before, but it consisted in spotting a variant by analyzing all the mutations it carries.

And there was a flaw: with the emergence of new strains, the tests failed to keep up and the delta variant was not spotted.

► To read also: 

Covid-19 in France: “immediate action plan” after a cluster of delta variant in Strasbourg

Much faster tests

From now on, these screening tests will focus only on three mutations in particular.

They have in common to promote better transmissibility of the virus as well as greater resistance;

it is therefore interesting to follow them in particular.

Another advantage: these new screening tests are much faster than the old method which could take a week, when only a few hours are now required.

While France has just fallen below the threshold of 5,000 daily contaminations, it is now possible for the health authorities to re-identify the chains of contaminations and isolate sick people, in particular those infected with a variant carrying these mutations.

► Also to listen: 

Covid-19: doctors warn about the relaxation of barrier gestures just after vaccination

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• Coronavirus

• France