Corona fast test at DM: drugstore chain calls the date

Karlsruhe. The drugstore chain DM was the first retail company that announced an appointment for the start of sales of Corona fast tests. The recently approved test kits should be available from Tuesday, March 9th. "It is important to us that life normalizes as quickly and as far as possible. We make an important contribution with the quick tests offered by DM," explains Sebastian Bayer, who is responsible for marketing at DM.

DM is not yet quite sure whether the start of sales will actually work as announced: "We expect availability for our customers at the earliest from March 9, provided that the manufacturer's delivery obligations can be met," says Bayer. He assumes that the delivery quantities are initially limited. "We want as many people as possible. That is why we will initially limit the sales amount per person," announced Bayer.

Other manufacturers are waiting for the approval

The Federal Institute for Medicines and Medical Devices approved the first antigen fast tests last week. These are considered somewhat less reliable than conventional coronate tests - but can also be used without a specialist. So far, three of the tests have been approved, and around 50 other manufacturers hope for an early special permit.

"With the self-tests, everyone can soon check whether they are currently infected before he meets other people. This should be an important help to find the way to a responsible normality," explains Harald Löwe, Managing Director of Lion Medical Technology. Among other things, his company sells Boson's rapid test that has already been approved, which should now be available from DM.

Discounter and supermarkets also want to offer rapid tests

but also the DM competition is not sleeping: Aldi, Lidl, Rewe and Edeka told Chip.de, among other things, they wanted to start selling as soon as possible. Apparently, however, not all rapid tests that retail chains rely on were approved. For this reason, many retail chains have not yet announced a specific start of sales. A few hours after the DM, however, Rossmann announced that he would also start selling rapid tests on March 9th.

It is not yet clear what the quick tests at DM will cost. Online pharmacies currently charge around 15 euros per test kit. A free distribution of quick tests, as has now been announced by Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU), is currently not foreseeable.