Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Covid-19 rapid test
Covid 19 rapid test - Credit: giorgiorossi73 / DepositPhotos - License: DepositPhotos
Health
Coronavirus
Covid-19
SARS-CoV-2
Covid-19 test
Hugo de Jonge
Ministry of Public Health Welfare and Sports
TNO
lamp
antigen test
breathalyzer
GGD
Ministry of Defense
Wednesday, October 28, 2020 - 08:08
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Rapid Covid-19 tests available from December

The government is working on establishing seven large test locations where, in addition to the regular PCR test to diagnose Covid-19, various types of rapid tests will also be used, Health Minister Hugo de Jonge said in a letter to parliament. These test locations are set to open in December. Rapid tests will also become available at 25 existing locations, RTL Nieuws reports.

The Ministry of Public Health is thinking about opening the large rapid test locations in the cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, The Hague, Groningen and Eindhoven. These locations will use the regular PCR test, as well as the LAMP test developed by TNO. The LAMP test gives results within 45 to 60 minutes, instead of the PCR's up to 48 hours. It is also just as reliable as the PCR test, experiments have shown.

The rapid test locations will also use the "antigen test", which checks for certain virus proteins and a breathalyzer test. These tests give results within minutes. The idea is that they will be used as a kind of first barrier. If you test negative, you can go home. If you test positive, you have to get a PCR test to confirm an infection. 

This is one step in the government's plan to significantly increase testing options, De Jonge said in his letter to parliament. Rapid tests will also become available at 25 existing test centers, starting from late next month. Health center GGD is also looking into whether mobile test units are an option, so that testing can be done in a more neighborhood-oriented manner.

To help staff the new test locations, the Ministry of Health agreed with the Ministry of Defense that soldiers will help out during the start-up phase while more employees are recruited and trained. 

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Youth care organizations struggle to send youth protectors to children on time
  • Almere residents fear they will pay for Floriade disappointment
  • Many Ukrainians must leave host families for shelters as summer vacation approaches
  • Criminal ring attempted to ship over 400,000 MDMA pills from Netherlands to Chile
  • Minister favors changing approach to life sentence pardon requests
  • Long lines at Eindhoven Airport, partly due to early arrivals

Top stories

  • Hundreds of passengers evacuated from stranded train; some NS delays on Sunday
  • Suspect apprehended after getting stolen camper stuck in Maas river
  • German police arrest Dutch man who mailed envelopes of drugs
  • Regional bus drivers strike in Groningen, Almere, Waalwijk
  • Extra Covid-19 measures not yet necessary: Van Dissel
  • Farmers demonstrate in many places, dump straw bale at minister's house

© 2012-2022, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content