FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
General questions
For general questions and answers concerning the novel coronavirus, please refer to the information provided by the Robert Koch Institute under the following link:
https://www.rki.de/EN/Content/infections/epidemiology/outbreaks/COVID-19/COVID19.html
or the Senate Chancellery of the Governing Mayor of Berlin
https://www.berlin.de/corona/en/
Are you worried that you have been infected? You can obtain advice from the hotline of the Senate Department for Health, Care and Equality.
Ph.: (030) 90 28 28 28 from Mo – Fr 8 am – 8 pm, Sa and Su 8 am – 8 pm
Corona-Warn-App
Unfortunately, our lab is not connected directly to the Corona-Warn-App.
Don't worry! There is an alternative option.
You can contact the verfication hotline of the Corona-Warn-App (free, 0800 754 0002, Monday-Sunday, 7 am to 8 pm), and a 10-digit Tele-TAN-Code will be provided, in which you can use to enter the positive PCR result in the app.
To obtain the code, you will be asked to provide your phone number. Once you are contacted by the verification hotline, you will be required to answered a few simple questions about the test to check the plausibility of the information.
Now you can share your result via the app.
Specific questions
The founders of the DHS test centre at Leopoldplatz have observed with concern the varying sampling methods applied for nasal and throat swabbing throughout Germany. For a reliable result, the test should be performed by truly trained personnel. In addition, written confirmation of the test result can only be attained at a test centre, which enables you to, e.g., go shopping or travel by air.
Every citizen has the right to be tested free of charge at least once a week with a rapid antigen test ("citizen test"). The costs for this are covered by the federal government via the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians. The aim is to detect early-stage infections, even in asymptomatic individuals, to be able to disrupt the chain of infection as quickly as possible.
Reasons to get tested include:
- Contact with an individual that has tested positive for SARS-CoV-2
- If you have flu or cold-like symptoms
- For air travel
- For scheduled medical procedures/surgery
- If you would like to visit family members who belong to one of the groups most at risk
- In suspected cases/to exclude infection
- To reliably verify a positive rapid antigen test
The gargle test is actually intended as a concept for primary school children for their opening. Although this test is approved by the World Health Organisation, the target group this test is intended for should be kept in mind. Nasal and throat swabs are unpleasant but medically and epidemiologically necessary, as they provide the most reliable diagnosis. The Robert Koch Institute has warned of the dilutions effect of the gargle test. In the low-cost PCR gargle test, individual patient samples are mixed with up to 10 other samples to reduce laboratory costs. However, test reliability is affected, with the potential of the failure to detect individuals with a low viral load. Especially at the beginning of an infection, individuals are usually asymptomatic and only a few viruses are present. Without reliable diagnostics, the test person can be mistakenly given the all-clear. The individual may then unknowingly infect friends, acquaintances, and/or family members who may even belong to one of the groups at most risk.
At DHS, we are aware of our responsibility in the current pandemic to identify even weak-positive cases and provide the best possible advice to individuals. Therefore, we work with nasal and throat swabs, with personnel trained by us, and perform single PCR measurements in our own laboratory (no pooling).
Over the past year, we have observed the following:
- Saliva is not as reliable as nasal and throat swabs. The gargle test is associated with dilution effects.
- Some individuals were positive in either the nasal or throat swab. Therefore, we always perform both swabbing forms for PCR analysis.
- An infection may be missed if, e.g., the same throat swab is used as both a throat and nasal swab. This was practiced for a certain amount of time due to the supply shortage of nasal swabs.
- Individual measurements should be performed as many subjects have a CT value just below the detection limit. Pooling strategies would lead to dilution effects and weak-positive cases might be missed.
The DHS premises and, therefore, also the test centre at Leopoldplatz can only be entered with a correctly used FFP2 mask. In addition, the following rules apply:
- Distance of at least 1.5 metres from other individuals
- Hygiene rules are to be observed (disinfection dispensers are available on-site)
- Dproper mask. Please only enter the premises/rooms with FFP2 masks. These are also available on site.
Please limit your visit to our test centre to a minimum.
Yes. In general, any person with a valid passport/ID card can be tested. It is important to present the identification document or the residence permit.
No. You are not required to have a residential address in Berlin to be tested. It is important to present your ID card/passport or residence permit.
Principally, everyone has the right and also the duty to be tested via PCR if they are symptomatic. We ask for particularly strict adherence to hygiene measures in order not to endanger public welfare. Please directly visit the test centre at Leopoldplatz and do not proceed to other locations until the test result is available. Also, please place yourself under quarantine until the test result is available.
Please try to be as punctual as possible to your appointment, i.e., not too early and not too late. If this is not possible to do unforeseeable circumstances, we will try to accommodate your needs. In such cases, please contact us at 030 28690892 if you have an appointment shortly before the closing time or if you are running late.
Questions on booking appointments
You can select the service you are interested in on the homepage of www.pcr-am-leo.de. Under "Book a test", you will be redirected to register your data and book an appointment through the booking system. You will have the chance to pay online and receive a booking confirmation.
IMPORTANT: Your data will appear on the report in the same manner as you have entered it through the online booking system. Please make sure that your data is entered correctly.
For pensioners: In exceptional cases (people without a smartphone or internet), an appointment can be made by phone. We are also happy to help you on-site. Simply call us in advance at 030 28690892.
As long as appointments are available in the online booking system, you can book appointments at short notice. If there are no more available appointments, please call us at 030 28690892. We will then try to mutually find a solution.
If it concerns the testing of a group or company, you can make contact via the tab "Contact/Location/Opening times (https://pcr-am-leo.de/en/kontakt-anfahrt-2/).Your emails will be answered relatively quickly. We will be happy to make you a tailoured offer.
The booking confirmation is made following online payment by our service provider.
Appointments can be cancelled easily via our service provider.
Questions about the different tests
Der Antigen-Schnelltest ist NICHT für Flugreisen geeignet. Um eine Flugreise antreten zu können, benötigen Sie einen negativen RT-PCR Befund (zweisprachig), der nicht älter als 48-72 Stunden sein darf. Unser Laborbefund wurde bisher immer problemlos von allen Flughäfen akzeptiert. Bitte beachten Sie die aktuellen Einreisebestimmungen auf der Seite des Auswärtigen Amtes:
https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/ReiseUndSicherheit/reise-und-sicherheitshinweise (only in German)
The standard PCR and the express PCR are identical methods, with the only difference in the time until the availability of the test result. With the standard PCR, the result is usually available on the same day, especially if the appointment was made during the first half of the day. However, results are usually available within 24 hours at the latest.
The express PCR entails a prioritisation of the logistics and the workflow, so that results are obtained within 3-6 hours. Therefore, appointments for the express PCR are only available at certain times.
To our knowledge, we are the first test centre to offer a Variant PCR For a small additional cost, two PCRs will be performed as part of this service. The first PCR will check whether you are currently infected with SARS-CoV-2. If so, a second PCR is performed to determine the current variant. In this case, it can be differentiated as to whether you are infected with the Wuhan variant, the more highly infectious British variant, or even the South African variant where, for example, current vaccines are less effective.
A PCR test can be performed starting from the age of 0 years. In very young infants/children, swabbing is performed in a delicate and very careful manner. Children under 16 years of age must be accompanied by at least one parent. Teenagers over 16 years of age can come to their appointment unaccompanied with a power of attorney from their parents.
After successfully booking your appointment, please arrive punctually to your appointment with your ID. After verifying your ID, you will be asked to enter one of the collection rooms. Here, a nasal and throat swab will be collected by a trained specialist. The procedure should take no longer than 5-10 minutes.
We take either a nasopharyngeal or throat swab for the rapid antigen test.
Your test result/report will be made available online via your smartphone, tablet, or computer. When you register, you will receive an individual QR code to access your results.
Results for the standard PCR are available usually during the same day of sampling, or within 24 hours at the latest. Results for the express PCR are usually available within 3-6 hours. Results for the variant PCR are available within 48 hours, as two PCRs are performed.
The PCR method is currently the most accurate detection method, with even only a few virus particles sufficient to detect acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. Unlike a rapid antigen test, where only viral proteins are detected if present in high amounts, PCR amplifies the viral genome. In addition, the PCR method is the only method accepted for air travel.
Payment questions
We are currently working on implementing an online ticketing system. You can pay on site contactless with a debit card or credit card (MasterCard + VISA). You can also make an instant bank transfer to the following account and present confirmation of payment on-site:
Recipient: DHS – Diagnostic HealthCare Solutions GmbH
IBAN: DE83 5023 4500 0412 7400 01
Payment purpose: Name(s) and type of test booked
A cancellation is currently not possible.
In case of double payment on-site, the doubled amount can be transferred back.
Sie können gern eine Rechnung bei uns anfordern. Dazu schreiben Sie uns bitte eine Email an re******@pc********.de mit der Angabe Ihres Testtermin, Namen und Anschrift mit der Buchungsbestätigung.