Little demand could lead to pharmacies not ordering this type of test for Madeira.
Pharmacies in the Region do not yet have rapid antigenic tests available for their own use, or for sale to the public. Availability in pharmacies should only happen if there is demand, some pharmacists assured the Diário Notícias.
The Government of the Republic approved, yesterday, the sale of these rapid tests, starting today and for a period of 6 months, both in pharmacies and in places where non-prescription drugs are sold.
At Farmácia Morna, Farmácia Confiança and Farmácia do Carmo, located at Rua Dr. Fernão de Ornelas, pharmacists have not registered a demand for this type of test, the results of which can be obtained in a period of time ranging from 10 to 30 minutes .
As they recalled, in many cases, demand in the Region happens because people need to travel. In that case, a PCR test is needed and not an antigen test such as what the pharmacy can provide, which is why it is not expected to be in high demand. In addition, in the absence of community transmission and with the transmission chains to be followed by SESARAM, contacts of positive cases are asked to perform PCR testing in public services.
Antigen tests do not require laboratory equipment to be processed and are designed to detect the presence of the virus in the body. PCR tests are more specific and sensitive, so they have a higher reliability rate. The greatest reliability of antigen tests occurs in the first five days after the onset of symptoms, since the viral varga is greater. Thus, they are more effective in symptomatic patients.