Mrs. Dr. Rike Huber
EQAsce has met Mrs. Dr. Rike Huber who is medical specialist for microbiology, virology infection epidemiology at Dr. Wisplinghoff laboratory. Since last year, Mrs. Huber is EQAsce-member. In the past she has been an EQAsce-expert for One Health at many congresses. Connected to the current Corona-crisis-situation she is in great demand and advises the EQAsce steering committee and the EQAsce members about right ways of acting.
EQAsce: Mrs. Huber, why is it right for all qualification offering organizations among the EQAsce members to not have events with obligatory presence of the participants?
Dr. Huber: The contact limitations commanded by the federal state government to slow down the spreading of SARS-CoV-2 must be obeyed. This includes a prohibition of events all over the country. The situation of infections is been observed and valued continuously. In case of easing these regulations the question of allowing events must be assessed again.
EQAsce: What is your advise for certification bodies for their trainings of auditors?
Dr. Huber: Again, this comes under the regulation for contact limitation. Assessments should be postponed if possible or being executed as distant assessments. In case of critical situations which do not allow either one of the points above, individual necessary measurements must be taken. That is for example the keeping of a distance of two meters from person to person and the use of protective clothing.
EQAsce: What about the Corvid-antibody-test? How reliable and significant is it?
Dr. Huber: The automatized COVID 19 antibody tests are implemented at all laboratories and are operated several times.
Regarding the reliability of these tests I must say that the test-results can only indicate “positive” or “negative” as an answer to the question if antibodies are there. It doesn’t say anything about the concentration of antibodies. Thus, it is not possible to draw a secure conclusion about the stage of immunity upon the result of a positive antibody-testing – according to current studies. And: The antibody test alone cannot say anything about the danger of infection by a patient.
EQAsce: Which measures of qualification and trainings do you recommend for enterprises of the agri and food sector? Which measures must be taken following the infection protection law?
Dr. Huber: The aim of the infection protection law is to prevent the spreading of transmissible diseases for humans, to detect it as early as possible and to stop further spreading. At this point the main measures are reporting procedures and operation at health institutions and community housings.
EQA members have started to produce and examine training-videos for enterprises of the agri and food sector that recruit seasonal workers from abroad. The spreading can only be slowed down if rules of action and hygiene are strictly obeyed at all areas.
