Medical experts assure that Rapid Antigen Tests are still effective in detecting the latest variants of COVID-19, although there have been changes in how and when people use them. With the increase in Covid-19 cases, home tests have once again become a popular tool for individuals to make decisions about going to work or school. However, some people may receive negative test results despite having a known exposure or experiencing recognizable symptoms.
Dr. Michael Mina, an immunologist and epidemiologist, explains that the way people use rapid tests has changed. Additionally, the presence of underlying immunity in most individuals affects the performance of the tests. Despite these factors, the tests are still capable of detecting infections.
Todd Merchak, co-leader of the RADx program at the National Institutes of Health, reassures the public that the performance of currently marketed COVID-19 tests has not been affected by the new variants. The RADx program, in collaboration with the FDA, continuously monitors new variants and assesses the performance of tests sold in stores.
The reason why Covid-19 tests remain effective in detecting variants is that they target the nucleocapsid proteins (N-protein) of the virus, which do not undergo as much change as the spike proteins targeted by vaccines and antibodies. Researchers have developed a tool to predict how changes in the N-protein, specific to each variant, will affect the ability of rapid tests to detect the virus. This allows scientists to quickly determine if a test will still be effective.
In conclusion, Rapid Antigen Tests are still reliable in detecting the latest variants of COVID-19. Changes in testing practices and underlying immunity may affect test results, but the tests are designed to pick up infections. Ongoing monitoring and assessment by organizations like RADx and the FDA ensure that tests remain effective in detecting new variants.
Sources:
1. CNN article by Brenda Goodman
