Covid-19: Large test volume but no laboratory bottlenecks for repetitive testing

Last week, TOGETHER WE TEST evaluated a total of 31,710 pool tests and over 10,000 individual confirmation tests. More than half of the weekly volume arrives on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (57% of the weekly pool tests conducted are evaluated on these two days), which leads to an increase in the load on the laboratory capacities on these days.

The capacity guaranteed by the laboratories  totals 28,250 tests – per day. In addition, thanks to the 17 laboratories across Switzerland cooperating in TOGETHER WE TEST, balancing the workload among the laboratories can be guaranteed. This broad-based solution also enables TOGETHER WE TEST to cope with the current high volume of testing more easily than would be possible with individual cantonal solutions. The time between a sample reaching the laboratory and the results being transmitted is usually still under 24 hours. If necessary, further laboratory capacity can be added at any time.

The positivity rate in calendar week 47 across the 8,217 schools and businesses registered was 4.95%. For the latest figures, please see www.hirslanden.ch/twtstats.

About Hirslanden

The Hirslanden Group operates 17 hospitals in 10 cantons, many of which have an emergency department. It also operates 4 outpatient surgical units, 17 radiology institutes and 5 radiotherapy institutes. Together with public and private cooperation partners, Hirslanden focuses on the continuum of care as well as promoting high-quality, responsible, personalised and efficiently-integrated healthcare.

The Group has 2,314 partner doctors and 10,711 employees, 479 of whom are permanently employed doctors. Hirslanden is the largest medical network in Switzerland. In the 2020/21 financial year, the Group generated a turnover of CHF 1,796 million (including CHF 12.6 million in cantonal COVID-19 compensation payments). As at 31 March 2021, the Group had treated 107,401 patients for a total of 461,004 inpatient days. In insurance terms, the patient mix consists of 51% basic, 28.8% semi-private, and 20.2% private insured patients.

Hirslanden is synonymous with first-class medical care provided by highly qualified medical specialists with many years of experience. As a system provider, the Group stands out from the rest of the market: interdisciplinary medical centres of expertise, and specialised institutes enable it to offer the best possible individualised treatment even in highly complex cases. The Hirslanden Group was formed in 1990 through the merger of several hospitals. Since 2007, it has been part of the international hospital group Mediclinic International plc, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange.