Why is there no PCR tests available?

stezie · 29-12-2021 10:32am #1

Why is there no appointments available on the HSE website anywhere in the country?

I have selected every county and not one appointment is available

I recognize they are busy... But surely they should of seem this coming for them to expand services to cope with demand.

What else are they not managing right..

Van.Bosch · 29-12-2021 10:35am

They book up after midnight because half the country has symptoms

horse7 · 29-12-2021 10:36am

Expect more smoke screens from Paul Reed & co.

weetiepie · 29-12-2021 10:39am

What??

fits · 29-12-2021 10:39am

Because we are in the midst of an omicron surge and it’s not possible to magic up testing capacity in two weeks that is likely pointless anyway.

Atlantic Dawn · 29-12-2021 10:41am

Assume you have it, test with shop purchased antigen tests, isolate for required time, case closed. Plus side no official record of you ever having the virus kept.

Danzy · 29-12-2021 10:47am

There isn't the capacity available lab wise.

There couldn't be either

lawrencesummers · 29-12-2021 10:53am

Our testing calacity has doubled since the pandemic started.

It was initially at a terribly pitiful level, and not its just at a pitiful level.

Tests are limited to 30k per day.

With 10k positive tests a day it means those people will have An average of at least 3 close contacts so thats an entire days teating wiled out.

If i had symptoms i wouldn't even bother trying

corcaigh07 · 29-12-2021 10:56am

A lot of the capacity issues are surely related to a situation of "Ah, I might as well get the PCR and if it's positive, I don't need the booster for my Covid pass".

Sarn · 29-12-2021 10:59am

Contact your GP for a referral. One of the testing centres near us never appear to release any appointments (always 0 at midnight), but can be got through the GP.

is_that_so · 29-12-2021 11:02am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118385190#Comment_118385190

We can now do 250,000 a week and Reid talked about ramping up to 300,000+. Ultimately we can't just keep expanding the system.

Vaccinated30 · 29-12-2021 11:08am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118385205#Comment_118385205

This is exactly why I got my pcr. I was able to stay home and isolate, just taking the antigen test.

But the govt want to force me to get a booster or not let me travel/dine indoors or god knows what else they'll cook up. The govt moved the goal posts, the people are just playing the game.

As a side note, people need proof of pcr for payment off social welfare and for time off work too

Wanderer78 · 29-12-2021 11:21am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058224796/why-is-there-no-pcr-tests-available

...cause such resources required for an all of a sudden surge simply dont exist in the country.....

EDit · 29-12-2021 11:36am

OP, check the website again after midnight. My wife tried to book one during the day yesterday and the site implied that there were no free slots anywhere in the country for several days. A friend who works for the HSE then suggested trying again after midnight and, lo behold, there was a choice of pretty much any time tomorrow (Thursday) at the testing centre nearest us.

Seems they are taking bookings for the next 24-48 hours, but reserving the rest until time ticks over into the next day (aka midnight)

Good luck

corkonion · 29-12-2021 11:36am

I know many people with symptoms that were unable to get a pcr test, which really makes our daily reported new infection numbers totally irrelevant, between people that don't bother getting tested, can't get an appointment, asymptomatic cases, etc, you could double or triple the daily cases and still be nowhere near the real number.

lawrencesummers · 29-12-2021 11:58am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118385223#Comment_118385223

Denmark are doing 170k per day.

We are doing 30k on a good day.

Its pitiful here.

fits · 29-12-2021 12:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118385418#Comment_118385418

Where would you take the money from to fund increased testing capacity?

lulublue22 · 29-12-2021 12:12pm

Daughter has symptoms and had a positive antigen test yesterday - tried all day yesterday to get a pcr , tried again after 12 last night - one testing centre out of 4 had appointments over 700 of them - could not book one of them for love nor money . Hubby tried again at 6 am no joy. Rang gp busy tone from 9 am to 10.30 eventually got tru to receptionist - will have a phone consult this evening. Hopefully he will be able to book one for us. I’m taking it she is positive but want a definitive diagnosis in case - she has issues down the line ( she is asthmatic ) , we will get her the booster once it is available for her age group so need to know and we need proof for work in terms of self isolating. Lots of reasons people may want / need a pcr test. It’s a total head wreck at this stage.

spaceHopper · 29-12-2021 12:13pm

Everybody has been doing antigen tests over Christmas and it's caught a load of cases, so they are all trying to book PCR tests, if you are in the same boat book a PCR test because at least you will have a certificate of recovery to back it up in case you need it. If you have it now and want to travel and need a PCR test in two month you could test positive. So get a test now and have a certificate of recovery in stead of PCR test for flights.

This site will show you were there are tests but it not 100 accurate, often the HSE site says 0 app...

https://covid19.shanehastings.eu/pcrtesting/

Go on after midnight and see if can book a test, took me till 2 in the morning to book 3 as the site kept crashing.

They need to redesign the site, take the persons details first allow family booking and then find appointments. Try to book a drive in test too so that you aren't going in to building with sick people on the off chance you don't have it.

Pawinho · 29-12-2021 12:13pm

https://www.cdc.gov/csels/dls/locs/2021/07-21-2021-lab-alert-Changes_CDC_RT-PCR_SARS-CoV-2_Testing_1.html

Looks like there will be some changes about PCR test.

"CDC encourages laboratories to consider adoption of a multiplexed method that can facilitate detection and differentiation of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses. Such assays can facilitate continued testing for both influenza and SARS-CoV-2 and can save both time and resources as we head into influenza season."

Van.Bosch · 29-12-2021 12:16pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118385482#Comment_118385482

GP shouldn’t be charging for covid referrals. It should be free.

lulublue22 · 29-12-2021 12:19pm

Wildly Boaring · 29-12-2021 12:22pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118385336#Comment_118385336

We looked every 20 or 30 mins yesterday for the 2 kids.

Went on at midnight.

Plenty tests but no chance of booking one.

They released more at 12:30.

We got one each for the 2 kids in different centres.

Then at 1 they put another few up and we got sorted properly.

Pain in the hole.

Know 3 people with positive antigens. None got a test last night.

Downlinz · 29-12-2021 12:25pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118385455#Comment_118385455

Could take the €18m of public funds going to greyhound racing for a start.

lawrencesummers · 29-12-2021 12:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118385455#Comment_118385455

Where did we “take” it from in the first place to start testing?

The testing system, if it cant cope with anything near the demands being placed on it at peak times makes it essentially redundant, this isnt the first wave where the testing system has been miles away from demand either.

Where is the money coming from to roll out vaccinations? Where is the money coming from to subside pubs and restaurants, where is the PuP money coming from?

fits · 29-12-2021 12:42pm

Ok so where will you get the people to staff it? They were taken from other essential services in earlier waves resulting in enormous treatment backlogs now. Would you redeploy spoech and language therapists again so we can count a few more people with cold symptoms?

I just think we need to reevaluate priorities regularly.

Cluedo Monopoly · 29-12-2021 12:43pm

My brother has been trying to get one since Dec 23rd. He is about to give up.

Gael23 · 29-12-2021 12:46pm

Every second person has it thats why

Van.Bosch · 29-12-2021 12:46pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118385514#Comment_118385514

Ring back and ask, they may think you want a routine consultation too. Tell them it’s just covid referral. The gov pays them.

Stevek101 · 29-12-2021 12:57pm

Atlantic Dawn · 29-12-2021 12:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118385609#Comment_118385609

He would be clear in a couple of days whether he had it, I don't see the point at this stage.

29-12-2021 12:59pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118385514#Comment_118385514

The receptionist is wrong, a test referral is free. Ring back. If they keep insisting, say you'll report them as they cannot legally charge you for a covid referral.

lulublue22 · 29-12-2021 1:05pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118385621#Comment_118385621

Dr just rang no charge receptionist was just probably covering all bases ? ? happy days looks like we will be sorted. 😁

edited out of my original posts as turned out not to be the case.

Cluedo Monopoly · 29-12-2021 1:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118385669#Comment_118385669

Yeah he had 2 positive antigens and he had a few of the symptoms (heachache, throat, fatigue) so he is 99% sure he had it.

He is not bothered about getting the PCR anymore but he may need it to be able to decline the booster appointment and extend his covid cert.

Dempo1 · 29-12-2021 1:13pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118385418#Comment_118385418

Sssssh, don't let Paul Reid hear you say that, he'll be very cross 😏

long_b · 29-12-2021 1:35pm

I was on from midnight to about 12:38 trying to book one. Got as far as the last page one time but it wouldn't let me complete the last step.

The counties didn't even load half the time.

Marty Bird · 29-12-2021 1:39pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118385455#Comment_118385455

Borrow it sure we’ve borrowed billions for bogey ventilators, PPE and blue badges what’s another couple of billion.

Van.Bosch · 29-12-2021 2:01pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118385701#Comment_118385701

Great - let us know how long the doc appointment takes to come through.

Atlantic Dawn · 29-12-2021 4:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118385707#Comment_118385707

Yes I think it's 4 weeks from recovery before you can take the booster.

Cluedo Monopoly · 29-12-2021 5:13pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118386658#Comment_118386658

I thought it was 3 months

darem93 · 29-12-2021 5:25pm

I got tested today in Cavan and it was dead, I mean literally 1 person in front of me. Fair play to the people working there as I was in and out in seconds, but the centre easily could have done another 5 or 6 people in the timeframe I was there. Whereas I brought my sister to get tested in Enniskillen and the place was wedged but they were absolutely flying through them.

It's obvious the problem in the South is a lack of actual tests, or they don't have the resources to deal with any large number of test results.

They have had how long to prepare for this (I mean they've done enough scaremongering about how a huge wave was coming) and yet we're still consistently running into the same problems again and again...

lulublue22 · 29-12-2021 6:50pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118385970#Comment_118385970

Came through there for tomorrow evening so about 6 hours wait after dr requested appointment - not bad thought it would be Fri before a test was available.

Necro · 29-12-2021 7:25pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118385856#Comment_118385856

I hung on in till 1am and finally got an appointment for tomorrow morning, site is a mess though I got as far as entering my phone number for the validation code and it crashed. Was showing up 0 appointments then for ages but I figured some would eventually bounce back due to similar issues to my own and luckily they did. It's nuts though.

charlie_says · 29-12-2021 7:44pm

https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1476189028982702080

CDC saying that PCR stays positive for up to 12 weeks after infection.

The conspiracy soothsayers on the money again.

Midnight Sundance · 29-12-2021 9:34pm

How long does it take the appointment to come through if your doctor refers you? Doctor referred my two kids this morning but nothing yet . Been trying at midnight the last few nights to get pcr and nothing.

Pawinho · 29-12-2021 10:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118387411#Comment_118387411

How dare you?!

Pawinho · 29-12-2021 10:30pm

no panic, short message from Fauci

https://twitter.com/thehill/status/1476255696807243789?s=20

Danno · 29-12-2021 11:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118385485#Comment_118385485

If you get just a single booking for yourself and rock up on the day with the family, the friendly staff there test them too. I think they should make this clear to the public and it would solve a good bit with the site crashing.

Danno · 29-12-2021 11:31pm

Also, just to add - if you know of someone who tested positive get them to add you as a contact and mark the box that says you cannot isolate from them - the system will auto-book you a PCR test within 24hrs.

ShooterSF · 30-12-2021 1:07am

Anyone else not able to get past the county select option? Close contact and filled out the info but definitely showing symptoms and never got any message for a test so trying to sort one myself.

GiftofGab · 30-12-2021 1:13am

Got full on covid but unable to get a test. What are my options now?? Will I just isolate until symptoms go away??

Why is there no PCR tests available?

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