“Today we will approve the first three self-tests,” said Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn in an interview with ZDF Morgenmagazin this morning. This is a supplement to rapid tests.
Corona self-tests less accurate
Spahn announced that the first products would be released for sale in supermarkets and discounters on Wednesday. With the tests it is possible to carry out a corona test without trained personnel. However, the test results are less accurate than a rapid PCR or laboratory test.
Shortly after Spahn’s announcement on ZDF, the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) stated that the corona self-tests for use by laypeople have now been released. According to the Federal Institute, special approvals were granted for three products. So far, there are only rapid tests for detecting a coronavirus infection, which are carried out by medically trained staff.
Further self-tests would be approved next week, according to Spahn, who has been criticized for his failed rapid test offensive. The Minister of Health wanted to make free rapid tests available to all citizens in pharmacies and test centers from March 1st. This project was initially stopped in the Corona cabinet.
