![\\"logo\\"](\\"/img/logo-dpa-factchecking.svg\\"/) * WhatsApp service * About Us ![\\"IFCN](\\"/img/ifcn-certificate.png\\"/) ![\\"EFCSN](\\"/img/efcsn- certificate.png\\"/) # According to the WHO, PCR tests are “highly reliable” for Sars-CoV-2 February 11, 2021, 10:41 a.m. (CET) Since PCR tests have been used to combat the corona pandemic their significance is questioned. These are currently circulating on Facebook numerous postings (archived here) claiming that the World Health Organization (WHO) has published its guidelines on the use of PCR Tests changed. A positive result is no longer an indication of one “COVID19 infection”. There are different versions of the claim. In another Facebook posting (archived here) states that the WHO PCR Declared tests unreliable. According to the WHO, such a test would alone not enough to detect an infection. ASSESSMENT: As the World Health Organization (WHO) announced upon request, She still considers PCR tests to be a “highly reliable instrument Diagnosis of Covid-19». That a release from January 2021 is one The change in the WHO assessment of PCR tests is not true. According to a spokeswoman, there are ten reports of problems with Tests that have reached the WHO since the start of the pandemic. FACTS: The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on January 20, 2021 Information note published aimed at users of PCR Tests are aimed at - for example, laboratory staff. The note says below Among other things, you are reminded to read the instructions for use of PCR tests carefully. In addition, the WHO draws attention to known properties of the tests. For example, it means that there are even more false-positive results comes the fewer people who are actually infected - i.e. people without Infection such as this is incorrectly detected. About the However, this says nothing about the quality and reliability of tests. The WHO also points out that the Ct value is inversely proportional to the Viral load is. This value indicates the number of test cycles that are necessary to Reproduce and therefore recognize viral RNA. The WHO advises careful attention Interpretations of weak positive results for an infection, i.e. from Tests that required many cycles. According to the note, the from Manufacturer recommended threshold values ​​must be observed. In connection with If positive results are weak, the WHO advises looking for symptoms in those tested pay attention and carry out a new test - but not generally if the test is positive results. When asked by the German Press Agency (dpa), the WHO said: “We would like to reiterate that we properly used PCR tests for a “Consider a highly reliable tool for diagnosing Covid-19”. Completely So it is wrong to claim that the WHO does not consider a positive result longer for an indication of infection. According to the WHO, the background to the note is ten reports to the organization since the beginning of 2020, which dealt with problems with PCR tests. Included it was about both false-positive and false-negative results, like a spokeswoman wrote in response to a dpa request. Investigations have shown that In the specific cases, the Ct specified by the manufacturers is not Threshold values ​​were observed. Make a note of these specifications Attention, the first version in December 2020 had been published. An alleged unreliability of the test has now been established as well little can be deduced from the note, such as that it is a change in the WHO Assessment is, as suggested in some of the postings. In the new one Information note is of further consideration in the diagnosis Factors are also explicitly mentioned in the context of “health services” (“health care providers») the speech. How the individual states use PCR tests in turn The WHO does not prescribe the use of determining the number of cases. In Austria it is one of the tasks of the Agency for Health and Food security (AGES), communicable and non-communicable diseases to combat or prevent the population. Both that Ministry of Health and the German Robert Koch Institute (RKI) described PCR testing as the gold standard for diagnosing an infection SARS-CoV-2. The PCR test is “the most reliable method Identification and isolation of people infected with Sars-CoV-2 or are sick with Covid-19,” it says Austrian test strategy. PCR testing is therefore an essential part of that. \--- Left: WHO note (01/20/2021): information-notice-for-ivd-users-2020-05 (archived: Previous WHO version (December 14, 2020, archived): information-notice-for-ivd-users Business areas of the Agency for Health and Food Security (AGES): Austrian test strategy (page 9): (archived Download link: Robert Koch Institute (RKI) on PCR tests for Sars-Cov-2: (archived: Facebook posting 1: (archived: Facebook posting 2: (archived: \--- Contact the dpa fact check team: factcheck-oesterreich@dpa.com powered by dpa-newslab | Imprint | Privacy | About:
Since PCR tests have been used to combat the corona pandemic their validity has been questioned There are currently numerous postings circulating on Facebook archived here claiming that the World Health Organization WHO has changed its guidelines on the use of PCR tests A positive result is no longer an indication of a COVID19 infection There are different versions of the claim Another Facebook posting archived here states that the WHO has declared PCR tests unreliable According to the WHO such a test alone would not be enough to detect an infection