Joint implementation of the RKI recommendation to focus testing on SARS-CoV-2 is now the priority.
10.11.2020 12:23
As recently as Sunday evening, Federal Health Minister Spahn had explicitly pointed out that in this phase of the pandemic it was crucial to strictly adhere to the National Testing Strategy and, in accordance with the updated recommendations of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), to prioritize testing symptomatic individuals and vulnerable groups. However, on Monday morning, Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder countered, declaring he would stick to his "Bavarian testing strategy." Bavaria's special approach continues to place a strain on laboratories, negatively impacting them: on average, they are still operating at 97 percent capacity. The fact that capacity has not exceeded 100 percent is solely due to the expansion of testing capacity.
„A sustained occupancy rate not exceeding 80 percent would be ideal,“ says Prof. Jan Kramer, Vice Chairman of the Accredited Laboratories in Medicine eV. The Chairman of the ALM eV, Dr. Michael Müller, emphasizes: „While on the one hand work is underway on a joint vaccination strategy and, with regard to intensive care beds, the focus is always on what is medically urgent and important, this inappropriate strategy, which contradicts all recommendations, is provoking an unnecessary overload of the system in southern Germany.“
Regarding the figures: The 162 laboratories from outpatient and inpatient settings across Germany participating in the weekly voluntary data collection reported a significantly increased positivity rate of 8 percent in week 45 (previous week: 7.3 percent). A total of 1,446,305 SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests were conducted – almost the same number as the previous week. The backlog of unprocessed samples stood at 59,918 PCR tests this Monday. "We can't handle any more at the moment," notes ALM board member Evangelos Kotsopoulos, warning of the still extremely high volume of tests: "The backlog and, in some cases, excessively long turnaround times for results demonstrate the acute overload of the laboratories. Furthermore, due to the excessive number of unnecessary tests, we are still unable to build up critical reserves for the winter months. We have been pointing this out for months."„
The situation in the laboratories remains extremely tense and characterized by overload: staff are at the limits of their physical and mental capacity, the machines are running at full capacity – and the critical period in autumn and winter is still to come. "It will be quite some time before we have a vaccine and can then implement a targeted vaccination strategy to provide greater protection for the population. We need significant relief for our colleagues in the laboratory, relief that is noticeable, in order to be able to manage the next stage of this marathon: the approaching winter. Furthermore, in our view, the most effective methods remain: maintaining distance, observing hygiene measures, wearing everyday masks and avoiding contact as much as possible, using the Corona Warning App and submitting results there, and, of course, regular ventilation," says Dr. Michael Müller. "We all know that this is an enormous effort, comparable to the aforementioned marathon. Therefore, it is extremely important that we take particular care not to squander our resources." The only correct way forward, therefore, is to internalize and adhere to the National Testing Strategy with the updated RKI testing criteria. Kotsopoulos: "We appeal here to the reason and solidarity of the citizens to only request tests when they are sensible or medically necessary."„
The position of ALM eV is generally supported by the Berlin Medical Association: According to a statement, the organized medical profession in the capital is calling for a "return to reason." A misallocation of testing resources "inevitably leads to a progressive deterioration of outpatient and inpatient care. Therefore, the Berlin Medical Association demands that testing capacities be used only for sensible, medically justified cases." ALM Chairman Dr. Michael Müller explains: "Ultimately, people who simply get tested without symptoms contribute to a situation where a patient who urgently needs a test may not receive it, or may only receive it later due to the overburdened laboratories. This should be different in a society characterized by solidarity and a sense of community."„