The Association of the Diagnostics Industry (VDGH) emphasizes the great importance of testing in the fight against the pandemic. "Targeted testing for the coronavirus remains a cornerstone of coping with the pandemic. Infections are detected early and chains of infection can be interrupted. The regular use of tests protects vulnerable groups in hospitals and care facilities in particular," says VDGH Managing Director Walger. The test manufacturers welcome the fact that there is now legal clarity. This will enable companies to provide sufficient capacity for comprehensive care.
The VDGH believes that the agreed mandatory testing in hospitals is a good compromise: people entering a hospital must present a daily negative test result. Hospital employees must present a corresponding test result three times per calendar week. Walger explains: "This regulation, which was agreed at the last minute, is a sensible and cost-efficient compromise. We are convinced that everyone working in hospitals will treat their patients responsibly."
The VDGH considers wastewater monitoring to be an important building block for future pandemic prevention. The COVID-19 Protection Act enables countries to carry out water samples to monitor communicable diseases. The diagnostics and life science research industries provide the technologies required to detect pathogens in wastewater. Efficient screening through wastewater analyses is therefore possible quickly and cost-effectively, emphasizes the manufacturers' association. The VDGH advocates the widespread use of wastewater monitoring as part of pandemic preparedness. "The recent events in New York, where polio viruses were detected in wastewater, underline the importance of molecular wastewater monitoring to protect the population," says Walger.
