DGAP-News: SYNLAB AG / Key word(s): Product Launch/Alliance 
Highlights from SYNLAB Germany | SYNLAB supports the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia with regular 
lollipop-PCR-tests for pupils at elementary and specialist schools 
2021-05-07 / 12:00 
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. 
=---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
SYNLAB Holding Germany GmbH 
Gubener Straße 39 
86156 Augsburg 
Press release 
Highlights from SYNLAB Germany | SYNLAB supports the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia with regular 
lollipop-PCR-tests for pupils at elementary and specialist schools 
  . For the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), SYNLAB will regularly test pupils for SARS-CoV-2 using PCR-based 
    lollipop tests 
  . Simple and time-saving sampling in schools under the supervision of teachers enable safe schooling during pandemic 
  . PCR-pooling-method ensures efficiency and high accuracy 
SYNLAB, the largest European clinical laboratory and medical diagnostic services provider, together with other 
laboratories from NRW, will regularly provide screenings for pupils in North Rhine-Westphalia with the so-called 
lollipop-PCR-tests. Starting 10 May 2021, pupils at elementary and specialist schools will have the opportunity to do 
such a test twice a week. For this purpose, the individual samples will be analysed through the PCR-pooling-method. 
This set-up was agreed upon in a joint decision by the laboratories and the State Ministry for School and Education of 
North Rhine-Westphalia. 
Due to the simple sample collection and the efficient and very accurate PCR-pooling-method, the lollipop-PCR-test is 
particularly well suited for use in schools. For sampling, pupils suck on a cotton swab for about 30 seconds. Then, up 
to 15 swabs are collected in a so-called pool tube. If there are more than 15 pupils in one class, additional swabs are 
collected in another pool tube. Thereafter, a logistics service picks up the samples directly at the schools and brings 
them straight to the laboratories for examination. Results are available the next morning. 
The SYNLAB Access App provides school administrators, teachers and parents who are served by SYNLAB with a step-by-step 
guideline for the sampling procedure. If a pool tests positive, SYNLAB immediately informs the school's testing 
officer, who in turn informs affected pupils, parents, and responsible teachers. In such a case, all pupils who were 
part of the positive pool use a second, previously distributed cotton swab to take a sample at home for a so-called 
retest. This retest is a highly sensitive PCR-test as well and makes it possible to identify which individual samples 
are positive and which are negative. 
Dr Martin Roskos, Chief Medical Officer of SYNLAB Germany, emphasises the added value of the new test method compared 
to conventional sampling methods: "Compared to nasopharyngeal swabs or the gargle test, sampling with 
lollipop-PCR-tests is very easy, even for small children. In addition, this sampling-procedure can be supervised by 
teachers in schools to save time for actual school lessons. Overall, with the lollipop-PCR-test we offer a solution 
that is specifically tailored to the young and very young generation." 
Likewise, Dr Hassan Jomaa, medical director of the SYNLAB laboratory in Leverkusen, is convinced by the 
lollipop-PCR-tests and emphasises the state's pioneering role: "Introducing lollipop-PCR-testing in collaboration with 
the State Ministry for School and Education, we are establishing an effective testing concept for schools throughout 
NRW. The lollipop-PCR-test makes simple, regular, and accurate testing in schools possible. We are very pleased that 
our work in SYNLAB's Leverkusen laboratory will help protecting pupils and providing relieve for teachers and parents, 
all while strengthening safe schooling during the pandemic." 
With a sensitivity of more than 90 per cent, the PCR-pooling-method used for lollipop-PCR-testing offers a 
significantly higher accuracy than rapid antigen tests. In fact, SYNLAB studies have shown that about 40 percent of 
asymptomatic people tested positive on SARS-CoV-2 are not detected by rapid antigen tests. 
 
- End - 
 
For more information: 
Christian Ries,              +49 821 52157-210 
SYNLAB Holding Germany GmbH  christian.ries@synlab.com About the SYNLAB Group   . SYNLAB Group is the largest European clinical laboratory and medical diagnostic services provider by revenue and

number of tests. SYNLAB offers a full range of innovative and reliable medical diagnostics for patients, practising

doctors, clinics and the pharmaceutical industry. . Providing the leading level of service within the industry, SYNLAB is the partner of choice for diagnostics in

human and veterinary medicine. The Group continuously innovates medical diagnostic services for the benefit of

patients and customers. . SYNLAB operates in 36 countries across four continents and holds leading positions in most markets. More than

20,000 employees (FTE), including over 1,200 medical experts, as well as a large number of other specialists such

as biologists, chemists and laboratory technicians, contribute every day to the Group's worldwide success. SYNLAB

carries out approximately 500 million laboratory tests per year and achieved Group revenues of EUR 2.6 billion in

2020. . More information can be found on www.synlab.com -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2021-05-07 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 


Language:     English 
Company:      SYNLAB AG 
              Moosacher Straße 88 
              80809 Munich 
              Germany 
Phone:        +49 1701183753 
E-mail:       ir@synlab.com 
Internet:     www.synlab.com/ 
ISIN:         DE000A2TSL71 
WKN:          A2TSL7 
Listed:       Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, 
              Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange 
EQS News ID:  1194017 
 
End of News   DGAP News Service 
=------------

1194017 2021-05-07


 
Image link: 
https://eqs-cockpit.com/cgi-bin/fncls.ssp?fn=show_t_gif&application_id=1194017&application_name=news

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 07, 2021 06:01 ET (10:01 GMT)