Coronavirus in Romania: Govt. prefers no testing instead of quick testing

Romania’s prime minister Ludovic Orban said during a press conference on Tuesday evening (March 24) that the Government's goal in the coming week is to increase the Covid-19 testing capacity to over 2,000 people every day. At the same time, the prime minister dismissed the possibility of using rapid tests, saying that they cannot be used with confidence because they have a very high margin for error - 20%.

Meanwhile, over 100 doctors and nurses in Romania have been infected with the new Covid-19 virus after treating patients who hadn't been tested at all.

“I see many who are good at coronavirus, like football. But epidemiologists said that the diagnosis should be done on PCR, not on rapid tests, because they have a 20% margin for error, which is an enormous risk. It means that we could release 20% of the sick people with a certificate,” PM Orban said.

“Our goal in 5-7 days is to increase the testing capacity to over 2,000 per day, and further to 2,500 per day, and to continue to grow. We will give the county hospitals the right to make direct purchases,” the PM added, addressing the issue of limited processing capacity for the Real-Time PCR tests preferred by the Government for their higher accuracy.

Quick tests vs. Real-Time PCR tests

There are two types of tests for patients suspected of coronavirus. Local Recorder.ro has explained in an article the difference between the two.

The most reliable is the molecular diagnostic test (Real Time PCR). It is harvested through pharyngeal exudate and then processed in the laboratory, using a special device. The test determines whether or not the COVID-19 virus is present in the patient's body. The result takes several hours. However, this test requires specialized equipment and local hospitals in Romania have only a few such devices.

Then, there’s the rapid test, which is done by harvesting a very small amount of blood (it may be a few drops taken by pricking a finger). It is easy to perform and interpret, resembling a pregnancy test, and the result comes in about 15 minutes.

This rapid test does not determine the presence of the virus in the body, but the presence of antibodies, which makes it less accurate than the PCR test. Thus, if a patient has been infected just a few days before the test, the body hasn’t started producing antibodies, and the test will go negative, although the patient has coronavirus, resulting in the false negatives mentioned by prime minister Orban.