EXPLAINED: The change that caused PCR test result times to blow out

Queenslanders are waiting up to six days for PCR test results after the Omicron surge forced pathologists to change how they process results. READ THE EXPLAINER

Queensland’s PCR test result wait times have blown out to up to six days after pathology clinics were forced to change the way they process the tests.

As Omicron rips through the Queensland community with more than 32,000 active cases across the state, at least 23 per cent of all swabs are now coming back positive.

The surge in cases forced pathology clinics to change how they process the tests from doing it the more efficient way of in batches to now individually processing each test.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said Queensland Health had a phone hookup with private providers on Tuesday where they explained why wait times had blown out.

Pathologists have had to change the way they process swabs due to rising case numbers. Photo: John Gass

She said private pathologists were not able to “block test” anymore - which is when a number of tests are tested together.

If a test came back positive, they would then go back and individually test that batch.

But when all are negative, as many were in the past, it is a faster and more efficient way to process the results.

However, as cases surge and so many are coming back positive, the pathologists now have to process all swabs individually.

Pathology staff pictured at the Ashgrove Baptist Church Covid-19 testing site - the rise in positive cases means swabs have to be processed individually. Picture: Josh Woning

Ms D’Ath said the change had led to a 50 per cent reduction in their turnaround times.

“(That change) has reduced their capacity by around 50 per cent,” she said.

There were also workforce problems, she said.

More than 30,000 PCR tests are being done each day as Queenslanders swarm testing sites, leading to mass chaos with queues stretching for up to 9 hours and clinics reaching capacity by early morning.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk today announced six more private testing clinics would reopen from Wednesday to Friday to ease the strain on the system.

The new clinics would be at Ashgrove, Boondall, Edens Landing, Cleveland and Wilston.

She also said rapid antigen tests were currently being distributed around the state and would be available at major testing sites from tomorrow.

More than 30,000 tests are being done each day. Photo: John Gass