Waiting for Covid test result can exceed 7 days in São Paulo

Previously released in up to 72 hours, the result of the RT-PCR test, for the detection of the new coronavirus, in the public health network of São Paulo is taking more than a week to be ready.

The author of this report presented respiratory symptoms on the night of the 12th and, in the morning of the following day, he went to a Basic Health Unit (UBS) in the south zone to undergo the exam. At the scene, he received the information that the result would be ready in up to three days.

However, until the afternoon of this Thursday (20), the result had not yet been made available.

Due to the great demand from people who complain of flu-like symptoms, the city hall changed its protocol and restricted the Covid test, which was previously performed on any patient with suspected Covid-19, to those who receive a positive result through the Covid-19 test. antigen, faster.

If the result is positive, the patient is released to perform the PCR in the same health unit.

Immediately after collecting the material, the person receives a card, in which the user code and password are inserted.

In the case of the reporter, when accessing the website of the laboratory responsible for the analysis and dissemination of the result, the message appears a week ago: “Order linked to the user entered is not registered. Please wait for the creation of the same”.

Reports of waiting for the result are repeated on Reclame Aqui, a site that gathers consumer complaints against public bodies and companies. There are messages from people who say they underwent the exam on the public network on the 13th and, so far, have not had an answer.

Doctor Daniel A. Dourado, a researcher at Cepedida/USP (Center for Research in Health Law at the University of São Paulo), says that the delay in knowing the diagnosis harms the attempt to interrupt the chain of transmission of the virus. “Many people without symptoms can continue transmitting without knowing it. The right thing would be for people to consider it as if they were positive, if they have had contact with someone infected.”

In a note, the Municipal Health Department reported that the test result, carried out on the 13th, will be available this Friday (21). “SMS adds that the results of the RT PCR tests are being made available within five to seven days, mainly due to demand at this stage of the pandemic”.