According to the Drees, more than 2 million tests were carried out in France between October 26 and November 1, 2020, but the delays in validating the results are getting longer.
- The Drees publishes a map of France indicating the departments where the delays in the results of Covid-19 tests are the longest.
- Between March 1 and November 1, 2020, it is estimated that nearly 21,827,000 RT-PCR tests were carried out in France.
The Covid-19 screening policy put in place by the Government is following a paradoxical evolution. More and more tests are being carried out, but the delays for obtaining the results are getting longer, due to the saturation of the laboratories (see the maps below, where the longest waiting times are indicated in dark blue and in black). 
More and more tests
Between March 1 and November 1, 2020, it is estimated that nearly 21,827,000 RT-PCR tests were carried out in France: 2,293,000 over the period from March 1 to June 6, and 19,533,600 over the period from June 7. June to November 1.
The number of RT-PCR tests continues to increase sharply. Between October 26 and November 1, 2,186,600 tests were validated, almost 270,000 additional tests compared to the previous week, and 550,000 additional tests over the past two weeks.
Increasingly long deadlines for results
“The particularly high number of tests carried out between October 26 and November 1 is beginning to weigh on the ability of laboratories to process them”, note DREES experts : Median Render Time increases by 0.1 day to 1.1 day.
The share of tests validated in less than 24 and 48 hours has decreased significantly. 42% of the tests that were validated last week were taken within 24 hours before, compared to 48% the previous week. 80% of the tests that were validated last week were taken within 48 hours before, compared to 87% the previous week. More encouraging: “the share of tests validated in less than 72 hours decreases more slightly: 93% last week against 96% the previous week”, write the scientists in their report.
Finally, the median time between sampling and validation of the test result is more than 1.5 days for one department in ten.
.
