The correct use of self-tests seems to give safe results, explains to "F" the president of the Pancyprian Pharmaceutical Association Eleni Piera Isseyek, emphasizing that citizens "must faithfully follow the instructions listed in the additional package leaflet that the pharmacist provides together with the packaging they receive ".
"From the use of self-tests so far," said Ms. Isseyek, "we see that the results are very reliable as many citizens who are tested at home and have a positive result then turn to us and undergo rapid-testing by health professional, and the positive result is confirmed or some people turn to clinical laboratories or their personal doctor for verification ".
SEE ALSO: K. Tsioutis: Positive 1 in 50 who takes a test
Asked if there is a case in which a person has a negative result in the self-test and in a second test the result is positive, Ms. Isseyek stated that "in both rapid-tests and molecular tests, a result can be is negative and if repeated after a few hours or the next day the test the person proves to be positive. "What we are telling the citizens is to follow the instructions given to them by their pharmacist."
He also explained that "because in the instruction sheet included in the self-test package it was found in time by the Ministry of Health that there was a wrong icon, only in the Greek translation, the Ministry has provided us from the first moment with a second instruction sheet which pharmacists they usually put in the bag they give to the citizens together with the self-test package ". From the experience so far, said the president of the Pharmaceutical Association, "we find that citizens use the tests correctly and we even see that a culture has begun to develop among the citizens, who have become accustomed to the idea that they should be examined before each exit. or after a gathering in which they participated ". "This is a very positive development because self-examination contributes to the effort to manage the pandemic. "On the other hand, we see that we have positive results which are then confirmed as cases and the isolation process follows, which is also very positive."
This whole process, he continued, "gives us a sense of satisfaction that we contribute in practice as health professionals in the whole effort and at the same time proves that private pharmacies are part of primary health care."
The self-tests, he reminded, "are given free of charge by private pharmacies to people who have received two or three doses of the vaccine and are registered in the GESS. "People who have not been vaccinated in Cyprus or have been vaccinated in Cyprus but are not beneficiaries of GESS can obtain the tests free of charge from points designated by the Ministry of Health."
Using these tests, he stressed, "there is a constant examination and control of people who are vaccinated and can rest somewhat that they are not at risk of the virus. "Citizens so far seem to have embraced the practice of self-testing and some who have received the one free package they are entitled to return and want to buy a second package from pharmacies." He said, "this is a practice that has been successfully followed for several months in other countries inside and outside the European Union and it has become a habit in the world that they should check themselves before leaving or to feel safe. both for themselves and for those around them ".
The prices at which the self-tests are available, said Ms. Isseyek, "are quite affordable and the tests are given, either in packages that contain a number of tests, depending on the company or one by one."
Concluding, Ms. Isseyek stressed that we must "remember that the result of the self-tests can not be used for SafePass purposes".
Efforts to extend the sampling schedule
Efforts are being made to extend the schedule of rapid-testing by private pharmacies, said in a statement the Minister of Health Michalis Hatzipandelas. Speaking on Alpha TV, the Minister of Health said that "it is not ruled out that in the new year there will be a comprehensive review of the legislation governing the operation of pharmacies so that they can better perform their role in a pandemic." Asked to comment on the reduced number of sampling centers that cover only vaccinated citizens, but also pharmacies that will operate on public holidays, he said he would contact the president of the Pancyprian Pharmaceutical Association "to increase the number of overnight stays's overnight ».
"We will look into this again to increase these centers. I have personally done the rapid-test in pharmacies and sampling centers in different cases. I went on December 26th a festive day where everyone goes and waited 10 minutes. "But I will talk to the president of the Pancyprian Pharmaceutical Association to ask for an increase in the number of pharmacies that will be overnight these days," he said.
Test results
The head of the Advisory Scientific Committee, Konstantinos Tsioutis, was invited to comment yesterday on the protests of citizens that in some cases the test results are negative and in a second examination the person is positive for the virus.
"This phenomenon is not strange", said Mr. Tsioutis and explained: "it is something we know and observe often, especially in young people and in vaccinated people. Probably because there is already some degree of immunity, they do show symptoms, but they do not express the virus in large "quantities" in their respiratory system and that is why the tests, especially the rapid-tests, come out negative in the first days of symptoms. It is not a disadvantage of the tests, it is a feature of them, since they detect the virus when it is in our respiratory tract, above a specific "concentration". It is a reason to say that, even with a negative test, people with symptoms should remain limited and repeat the test. They can either repeat the rapid-test the next day, or perform a molecular PCR test (either in a private laboratory or after referral by a personal physician). "Because PCR is more sensitive than rapid, it can detect the virus in the respiratory tract earlier and in smaller quantities than the antigen test."
philenews.com