What is the difference between rapid PCR (RPCR) tests and "normal" PCR tests?

[rugk]

v2.19 adds support for fast/rapid PCR tests as it says:

• Support Rapid PCR Tests (EXPOSUREAPP-11252) https://github.com/corona-warn-app/cwa-app-android/pull/4827

However, I wonder why/what it actually does and what the difference to normal PCR tests is – from the CWA site? Obviously the result is received faster, but what else makes them special that a new special implementation was needed? – As the PR shows it even uses a new domain for that. After all, PCR tests were already implemented and how fast the result is received hardly matters from a technical point of view, the app just updates once it is there.

BTW the corresponding blog post does not even mention them/this new feature, so it can't be such a big thing…

[Ein-Tim]

FYI: https://github.com/corona-warn-app/cwa-event-landingpage/pull/42#discussion_r803494458

[rugk]

Also, for closing this issue here, maybe add a description to the FAQ?

[rugk]

FYI: https://github.com/corona-warn-app/cwa-event-landingpage/pull/42#discussion_r803494458

Unfortunately, there is still no technical explanation of why another domain/new implementation was needed for that? Where the PCR is evaluated hardly matters, does it?

[MikeMcC399]

If the function to manage Rapid PCR tests is now live, then the Solution Architecture document should be updated to cover this option.

Currently Solution Architecture covers only the classic back-end lab PCR test and Rapid Antigen Test, not the Point of Care (PoC) Rapid PCR Test:

• PCR tests: Retrieval of Lab Results and Verification Process
• Rapid Antigen Tests: Result Retrieval

A blog announcement and inclusion in FAQs would also be good, assuming again that the functionality of Rapid PCR tests is live, end-to-end. Existing FAQ articles may also need to be modified if it is unclear whether they apply only to lab PCR tests or also to PoC PCR tests. In addition the Glossary would need an update.

[MikeMcC399]

@rugk

Note the comment in https://github.com/corona-warn-app/cwa-website/issues/2541#issuecomment-1069143133 from @dsarkar that Rapid PCR tests are not yet live.

Also I had forgotten that the blog article for the 2.19 version was amended with details for the Rapid PCR test and that text change was withdrawn a few hours later.

[MikeMcC399]

• I added a new issue https://github.com/corona-warn-app/cwa-website/issues/2586 to the website repo.

[svengabr]

@rugk can this issue be closed in favor of https://github.com/corona-warn-app/cwa-website/issues/2586 ?

[MikeMcC399]

@svengabr

• This issue might be left open as a reminder to update the Solution Architecture document.

• https://github.com/corona-warn-app/cwa-website/issues/2586 only covers documentation in the FAQs.

[MikeMcC399]

@rugk

Please consider closing this issue now, as I think the remaining topics are captured in:

• a new specific issue #881 to request that the Solution Architecture document be updated to include Rapid PCR tests, and in
• https://github.com/corona-warn-app/cwa-website/issues/2586 for the FAQ content

Or is there something else which needs to be done? This functionality has not been announced as being live yet though.