The epidemic of the new coronavirus that emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of 2019 continues its march across the planet, capturing more and more countries. Now in many European countries, as well as in the United States, there is a difficult epidemiological situation. In addition, thousands of new deaths are recorded daily due to complications arising from infection with the coronavirus.
As for Russia, so far in our country and in St. Petersburg, in particular, the epidemiological situation remains fully controlled and there is no need to talk about the beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic. Although experts say that the situation can change dramatically at any moment, therefore, the country's leadership will already actively work to create domestic programs aimed at preventing the outbreak of a new Chinese virus in the country.
Given the rather tense epidemiological situation and the growing panic among the population, many people want to know where they can get tested for coronavirus in St. Petersburg and in what cases they can get this test for free.
- How is coronavirus diagnosed?
- What biomaterial is needed
- How long to wait for the result
- How many times is the test repeated?
- Is there a coronavirus system test in the city
- Symptoms to check: who can count on a free test
- Addresses of testing points for coronavirus
- Private laboratories: prices, addresses, phones
How is coronavirus diagnosed?
Before you take a test for coronavirus in St. Petersburg, you should understand not only the specifics of such testing, but also in which case doctors can give a person a referral for testing for COVID-19.
Testing for coronavirus in St. Petersburg, as well as in other cities and regions of the Russian Federation, is carried out only if a person has symptoms of this disease or if he has recently arrived from countries where the coronavirus epidemic is already raging.
“Representatives of the Ministry of Health are asking people to refuse personal visits to medical facilities if a person has mild flu or SARS symptoms. This will help reduce the burden on domestic medicine, whose main goal is to cure seriously ill patients.”
What biomaterial is needed
In order to be tested for coronavirus, you will need to pass swabs from the nose, nasopharynx and oral cavity. The biomaterial obtained by doctors will be sent to a laboratory to determine whether a person has been infected with a coronavirus.
In some cases, to improve the accuracy of diagnosis, urine and blood tests may be taken from the patient, and a lung puncture procedure may also be required.
You can check for coronavirus in St. Petersburg not only with the help of special rapid tests, but also with the help of a special method of molecular genetic polymerase chain reaction, which demonstrates the maximum. Diagnostic accuracy.
“Today, it is not possible to self-test for COVID-19 infection. To do this, the patient must have an appropriate referral from a doctor, issued based on the patient's symptoms or the fact that he has visited countries where the epidemic of the Chinese virus is already in full swing.”
How long to wait for the result
If we talk about the use of express tests, then the finished results can be obtained within 20-30 minutes after taking the biomaterial. When using the polymerase chain reaction method, residents of St. Petersburg will have to wait at least a day. True, this expectation is justified by the high accuracy of the analysis and the minimum probability of error.
“It should be noted separately that the cost of such an analysis for patients is 0 rubles. The state assumes all financial costs associated with diagnosing the population for possible infection with COVID-19.”
How many times is the test repeated?
To improve the accuracy of diagnosis, persons who do not have obvious symptoms of influenza or SARS are tested twice. If a person has already been diagnosed with a coronavirus and he still has external manifestations of infection with this infection, then he will need to go through the biomaterial delivery procedure three times.
Is there a coronavirus system test in the city
So far, the population of St. Petersburg and other cities of Russia does not have the opportunity to independently undergo testing for coronavirus, even on a paid basis in case of personal contact with the coronavirus diagnostic center. Such analyzes are carried out only in regional epidemiological centers.
In each regional center, you can take an express test or take a biomaterial for an in-depth analysis in order to establish an accurate diagnosis in a person with symptomatic manifestations of coronavirus.
At the same time, it should be noted that so far in private clinics and laboratories there are no special test systems that allow the detection of coronavirus in human blood.
Symptoms to check: who can count on a free test
Diagnosis of coronavirus in St. Petersburg is carried out only if a person has an appropriate referral for testing to check the fact of infection with COVID-19. Such a referral is issued only to people who have external symptoms of coronavirus infection, as well as people who have arrived from abroad or have been in contact with people who have recently returned from countries where there is a severe epidemiological situation.
The most common symptoms of coronavirus are:
- high body temperature;
- dry cough, often accompanied by difficulty breathing;
- general weakness and body aches.
Often the disease proceeds slowly and without any complications. About 80 percent of all people infected with coronavirus tolerate it quite easily or without any symptomatic manifestations and deterioration of well-being. True, 20 percent of patients need medical care to stop the symptoms of the disease.
The risk zone includes the elderly, as well as those with chronic heart disease, lung disease, HIV-infected and TB patients.
“If a person has a strong increase in body temperature, above 38.5 degrees, or breathing complications, he will need to immediately call 112 to call an ambulance.“
Addresses of testing points for coronavirus
St. Petersburg has become the second Russian city to have its own checkpoints for checking the population for coronavirus. Previously, analyzes from all over Russia were sent to the Novosibirsk region for laboratory research, which took several days. Now the procedure for making a diagnosis for residents of St. Petersburg will be significantly accelerated.
Samples taken from patients from St. Petersburg will be sent to the laboratory of the Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology. The address of this organization is 35 Oboronnaya Street. All biomaterials of patients in isolation with suspected coronavirus are undergoing laboratory tests using the polymerase chain reaction method. Final results can be obtained in just a day.
“Experts recommend not to panic and abandon the idea of running to get tested for coronavirus infection. Such analyzes concern only people who have been in contact with patients or who have arrived from other countries where there is an epidemic of COID-19.”
Private laboratories: prices, addresses, phones
So far, in St. Petersburg and other cities of Russia, not a single private clinic is engaged in testing for coronavirus. True, representatives of the private laboratory Invitro promise that they plan to establish the testing process for CLID-19 in their laboratories by early April.