I’m from Germany but haven’t bought any of the rapid tests myself, so I don’t have any first-hand experience with the situation. From what I understand, you can use these tests to test yourself, but they aren’t considered accurate enough to fulfill a condition of having to get a validated test for the bureaucracies.
I spent some time in Germany recently, and this is (or at least “was”, when I was there) wrong. The tests themselves are considered accurate enough, but the bureacracies usually don’t trust you to do it (or do it correctly). In some German states you can do a test at the restaurant to be let in. You can buy a test, take it to a pharmacy, and let the pharmacy do it and then validate it. In some German states it is ok for some jobs to test yourself regularly. Back then I think employers also had to provide take-home tests for free (or if not required, strongly encouraged).
Thanks, I appreciate the clarification. I’d indeed misunderstood that part of the rules—I figured since there’s such a thing as a “gold standard” test, rapid tests wouldn’t be considered “good enough” by the bureaucracies (even if they sound good enough for individuals who understand type 1 and 2 errors), but it makes sense if their main worries are instead that one might lie about the test result, or not perform the test correctly, or something.
And e.g. this page (in German) says that the Covid self tests are indeed identical to antigen tests except that they have to be administered by oneself and are hence only available / useful for private citizens.
(Side note: Somehow your quote from my comment ends on “As far as I know, the “antigen tests” are the same as the “rapid tests”.”, but that sentence isn’t by me. Presumably it was meant to be part of your own comment?)
I spent some time in Germany recently, and this is (or at least “was”, when I was there) wrong. The tests themselves are considered accurate enough, but the bureacracies usually don’t trust you to do it (or do it correctly). In some German states you can do a test at the restaurant to be let in. You can buy a test, take it to a pharmacy, and let the pharmacy do it and then validate it. In some German states it is ok for some jobs to test yourself regularly. Back then I think employers also had to provide take-home tests for free (or if not required, strongly encouraged).
Thanks, I appreciate the clarification. I’d indeed misunderstood that part of the rules—I figured since there’s such a thing as a “gold standard” test, rapid tests wouldn’t be considered “good enough” by the bureaucracies (even if they sound good enough for individuals who understand type 1 and 2 errors), but it makes sense if their main worries are instead that one might lie about the test result, or not perform the test correctly, or something.
And e.g. this page (in German) says that the Covid self tests are indeed identical to antigen tests except that they have to be administered by oneself and are hence only available / useful for private citizens.
(Side note: Somehow your quote from my comment ends on “As far as I know, the “antigen tests” are the same as the “rapid tests”.”, but that sentence isn’t by me. Presumably it was meant to be part of your own comment?)