The Swiss voice in the world since 1935
Top stories
Stay in touch with Switzerland

Swiss labs deny being slow with Covid-19 test results

Masked doctor
Many Swiss labs are working 24 hours a day, seven days a week Keystone

The President of the Swiss Laboratory Association has rejected criticism from the cantons and a leading epidemiologist that the delivery of contact-tracing test results has been tardy. The laboratories have massively expanded their capacities since April, he says.

Willi Conrad said in an interview with Tamedia newspapers on Tuesday that the rhythm of the tests had not changed. As a rule, test results are delivered on the same day or the following day. But sometimes this is not possible within 24 hours, he said.

Last month Marcel Salathé, an epidemiologist and director of the digital epidemiology lab at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), said people were being informed too late via contact tracing and testing.

More

With around 10,000 tests per day, the laboratories are currently well utilised, Conrad said. The maximum theoretical capacity is 20,000 tests per day. During the first wave of Covid-19 in April the load was much higher and reached the capacity limit.

The fastest method is for a sample to be taken directly from the laboratory, but it makes sense to get a doctor’s assessment before testing a patient for Covid-19, he said. He added that Swiss laboratories worked significantly faster than some abroad and many are working 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

More


Popular Stories

Most Discussed

News

Gurten Festival attracts 98,000 people to Bern's local mountain

More

Gurten Festival wraps up with 98,000 music lovers

This content was published on Over the four days, around 98,000 people – including volunteers – made their way up Bern’s local mountain for the 42nd edition of the festival.

Read more: Gurten Festival wraps up with 98,000 music lovers
Army seeks "contemporary" solution for bunker facilities

More

Swiss army looks to repurpose old bunkers

This content was published on The army is looking for a modern solution for its decommissioned fortress mortar bunkers, with plans to turn them into hardened defence hubs.

Read more: Swiss army looks to repurpose old bunkers
Women's Euro: Berne celebrates a football festival without a happy ending

More

Switzerland knocked out of Women’s Euro 2025

This content was published on Spain ended Switzerland’s run in the Women’s Euros on Friday, but fans in Bern made history with the largest supporters’ march in Women’s Euros history.

Read more: Switzerland knocked out of Women’s Euro 2025
Solar aeroplane flies around the Matterhorn

More

Solar plane flies around Matterhorn

This content was published on Solar energy pioneer Raphaël Domjan and his team continued preparations for the altitude record attempt at 10,000 metres with the SolarStratos solar aircraft.

Read more: Solar plane flies around Matterhorn
Compulsory vaccination against cattle disease in Geneva and parts of Vaud

More

Vaccinations imposed for some Swiss cattle

This content was published on Cattle in the canton of Geneva and in the neighbouring region of Terre Sainte in the canton of Vaud are being vaccinated against the contagious viral skin nodule disease. The first cases of the animal disease were reported at the end of June in France, just outside Geneva.

Read more: Vaccinations imposed for some Swiss cattle

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR