The Dr Risch Laboratory Medicine Centre (LMC) will soon be conducting coronavirus testing on a daily basis. Sample material is couriered to the medical practice and back to the lab. The results help to make decisions with regard to isolation periods.

Serological testing for SARS-CoV-2-Virus will be available at LMC Dr Risch as early as the first couple of weeks in April, according to a press release issued by the group for laboratory medicine. This would then allow around 800 to 1,000 tests to be conducted per day at the Bern/Liebefeld and eastern Switzerland/Liechtenstein locations.
The sample material is brought directly to the medical practice by the company's own courier service and back to the laboratory after a swab is taken. The analysis of the samples takes around four hours, LMC Dr Risch states in a press release. It can also test for influenza/RSV alongside the coronavirus.
LMC Dr Risch further explains in the press release that its testing method is the same as the one used at the national reference center NAVI/CRIVE. An additional investigation by NAVI/CRIVE is therefore not necessary in the event of both negative and positive test results. The results therefore provide a valid basis for the decision with regard to isolation periods (revoke/uphold), LMC Dr Risch clarifies.
The lab will inform both the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) and cantonal medical office of a positive coronavirus test within two hours. Negative results are announced once per day to the FOPH.

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