Delays of three days still plaguing PCR results

Nearly one in 10 people are waiting up to three days to get their PCR test results back as delays continue to plague the system.

People are still waiting up to three days for results from their PCR tests. Picture: Getty Images

Close to one in 10 people who have had a PCR test are waiting up to three days to get their results back.

New data shows that while the worst of the Covid testing crunch has eased, thousands of Victorians continue to wait more than three days to get a PCR test result and one major laboratory is warning results will take “a minimum” of 72 hours to process from the time they are received.

The Omicron strain, which hit the state over the summer holiday period, saw long lines form at testing sites and turnaround times for PCR results blowout.

Some Victorians earlier this month were stuck in isolation for a week only to be told their samples were no longer suitable amid a crunch on Melbourne laboratories.

The latest numbers from the Victorian Department of Health show the worst of that crunch has passed with 78 per cent of PCR test results being returned within 24 hours and 91 per cent within 48 hours.

The department did not provide figures beyond the 48-hour turnaround period or clarify if any samples are still being ruled invalid after being held without testing for too long.

The latest numbers are up from a low of three out of 10 PCR tests coming back the next day earlier this month but still leaves 9 per cent of tests that are taking at least three days to be returned.

The state processed around 31,200 PCR tests on Thursday, indicating around 2808 people will be waiting three days to get their results back, keeping them in isolation when they may be negative.

At its best Victoria’s testing regime was returning more than 95 per cent of PCR tests within a day and more than 40 per cent within 12 hours.

Victoria has processed an average of around 53,700 PCR tests a day during January.

That is well below the 72,000 tests it processed on average each day throughout October, although a spike in the positivity rate has slowed turnaround times by hindering batch testing where numerous samples can be tested and cleared together.

Test result turnaround times also vary by laboratory across Melbourne.

Australian Clinical Labs said PCR testing had returned to normal in Victoria this week, with 95 per cent returned within 24 hours and all tests back within 48 hours.

“As of this week in Victoria, the Clinical Labs turnaround time for Covid PCR testing is back to normal,” a spokesman said.

Dorevitch, owned by pathology giant Healius, also said it was once again hitting its “normal delivery objectives” of delivering 90 per cent of PCR results by the next day.

4Cyte is turning around 94 per cent of its test results with 24 hours and all within 48 hours.

But Melbourne Pathology, which closed its testing sites to the public earlier this month, is warning Covid results “take a minimum of 72 hours from the time it is received in the laboratory”.

Melbourne Pathology did not respond to a request for comment by the Herald Sun.