Astrid Köglberger MHPE

Students at the University of Applied Sciences for Health Professions in Upper Austria have to complete numerous internships within the scope of their studies. Especially during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic both their unpaid work as interns and their participation in official antigen-testing activities are of great value for the health care system. Studies have shown that health care workers are at increased risk of becoming infected with SARS-CoV-2. In a proportion of hospital personnel, SARS-CoV-2 antibodies are detectable in the blood even without evidence of Covid-19 disease. Thus, the question arises whether this also occurs in interns.

In the context of demographic change with an increase in medical services and at the same time a demand for a cost-efficient and affordable healthcare system, it is important to optimize processes. This also applies to laboratory analyses, which make an important contribution to patient care.