Stationary and mobile COVID test stations are needed everywhere at the moment. The demand is huge. Have you also decided to open your own test center? We explain here what you need to consider and what you need.
Who is allowed to open a COVID test center?
In principle, anyone can open a testing center. You will need a certificate from your local health office, which will check whether a test concept is available. Medical practices are authorized to carry out testing without a statement from the health office. If necessary, different regulations of your federal state have to be observed for the start-up.
Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia
In 6 steps to your own test center
1. location and hygiene concept
Where will your test station be set up? Will your station be in a store, a temporary container setup or a mobile test station? In all cases, you must create a hygiene concept for your location. Observe the Test Ordinance of the Federal Government (TestV) and the currently valid measures of your country. Your hygiene concept describes the setup of your test lanes and the planned procedure.
Register with your local health department with your test concept.
2. website and booking page
Via your booking page on the Internet, customers can find your test station and book an appointment directly online. With professional booking software, you get your own ready-made booking page and your customers can see directly in a calendar how many places are still available. This is offered e.g. by anny.
3. test software
Testing software is strongly recommended for scheduling appointments, automatic transmission of test results, and managing customer data (for reporting purposes). As an official test center, you also need software that enables results to be transmitted to the Corona-Warn app (manufacturer T-Systems). The software from anny has already integrated the Corona-Warn-App. This means that you do not need any further contracts with T-Systems.
Note: In the last section, we will go over the necessary software and hardware again.
4. training of the employees
Your employees must be trained and certified according to the Corona Test Ordinance. They learn the correct preparation and execution of a test and receive instruction in the topics of safety and hygiene.
5. test kits and protective equipment
Find out about suppliers of test kits and protective equipment.
6. settlement with the KV
The material costs for the test kits, the smear test and other services are billed monthly to the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians. For this purpose, you must register with the KV as a non-member of the KV.
Necessary and optional software and devices
Of course, it's not only important to know what requirements you have to meet to open a test center. We also tell you what equipment you need and what costs you can expect.
- Important: Booking system / test software
Recommend a professional solution for test centers such as. anny.
Cost: Often composed of flat rate + cost per certificate. (anny starts at a price of 0 euros + 0.45 euros per certificate per month and charges 499 euros + 0.15 euros per certificate per month in the highest plan).
- Optional: hand scanner
Handheld scanners can be used to facilitate check-in.
Inateck 2D Barcode Scanner Bluetooth
Cost: 50 - 150 euros depending on model
- Optional: Label printer
A label is affixed to the Covid rapid test for identification and evaluation. You can use any printer for this. The format is 90 x 29 mm.
Brother label printer QL-800 or with WIFI
Brother label printer QL-820NWB with WIFI
Cost: 80 - 140 euros depending on model
- Optional: common printer
For customers who want a printed certificate, a common printer serves.
