The collection point opened on Friday last week. It is located in the middle of Wenceslas Square and is open daily from 8 am to 6 pm. It is intended for the general public.
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“It will be used primarily by asymptomatic people who need proof of their health condition,” explained the director of the Prague hygiene station, Zdeňka Jágrová, who participated in the preparation of the new position. The first days so far show that there is great interest in the tests.
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According to Adam Gemrot from the GHC Genetics laboratory, which performs sampling and testing, they manage to check in around three to four hundred people a day. “We have an average of two to three minutes per patient,” Gemrot said.
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Due to its location in the center of Prague, the collection point also targets tourists – other places are located outside the center and tourists often travel to them throughout the city.
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Collection point on Wenceslas Square
Sampling in the center is performed by nasopharyngeal swabs, the test itself by PCR. According to Gemrot, people usually receive a test result within 24 hours. “The patient will receive an SMS in which he has a link to the test result. Of course, everything is in accordance with the regulation on personal data protection, “he added.
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The new collection point also accepts patients with a request from a doctor, to whom the test is paid by the insurance company, self-payers pay 1,750 crowns.
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For 700 crowns, those interested can also buy an antibody test to find out if they have already gone through the disease without symptoms. The results of this test will be reported within 15 minutes of collection.
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Those interested can be tested for the presence of disease and antibodies in the body.
Rapid tests for coronavirus, the result of which is available within two hours and which offer, for example, a collection point at Václav Havel Airport, are not being done here yet, but according to Gemrot, it is possible that it will expand its supply if there is demand for them.
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According to the mayor’s deputy Petr Hlubuček (STAN), the city wants to open more sampling points in five parts of Prague in the near future. It is part of prevention. “We want to avoid a situation in which we would be forced to introduce comprehensive measures with a societal impact,” he said earlier.
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