The validity of nucleic acid tests will now be counted from when the result comes out rather than at sample collection as previously, Shanghai's big data center said on Friday.
The adjustment of validity of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test is calculated follows an initiative to create a national unified PCR check standard.
The new way of calculation has been applied to the city's suishenma app, venue code and the "digital sentry," or the comprehensive code scanning and temperature check machines, which have been deployed across the city, since Friday.
Most local public transport and venues require a 72-hour PCR test report as one of the key regular measures on COVID-19 prevention and control.
Since it takes six to 12 hours on average, or even longer, for the result to comes out, many citizens, especially office workers, have to get a test every 48 hours to make sure their PCR report won't expire.
China's State Council, or the nation's Cabinet, has also stipulated that a PCR test made in different cities or displayed via different channels should bear the same validity nationwide. They include the various health codes of different provinces and cities.
