Google translate:Rapid antigen tests are among the new autumn measures taken by Federal Health Minister Spahn. In mid-October, they will become part of a new testing and quarantine strategy to combat the spread of the coronavirus. The tests will already be available in Germany as of today, the Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche announces. What is known about the antigen rapid tests and howdo they should be used in the future?
How do antigen quick tests work?
The text kits are sold to medical practices, nursing homes and hospitals.
(Photo: Roche)
Unlike conventional PCR tests, antigen rapid tests do not search for the genetic material of the virus in smear samples, but for molecules that are characteristic of the viruses. The rapid tests are comparatively easy to carry out: as a "lateral flow test" it works according to a similar principle to the pregnancy test. However, there are some differences. In the rapid antigen test, a sample is taken from the nasal cavity and tested for the presence of the antigen specific to Sars-CoV-2 - the nucleocapsid protein, a protein from the viral nucleus. During the pregnancy test, the urine is examined for the pregnancy hormone HCG. Both tests are similar in the display of the results. Two color strips (test and control strips) mean a positive result, one strip a negative result (the control strip) and no strip that the test is invalid. The results are usually available within 15 minutes.
How reliable are the results of the tests?
The test has a specificity of 99.68 percent. Thus, false-positive results are highly unlikely. He also had a sensitivity of 96.52 percent, which means he has a less than four percent chance of getting a false-negative result. According to Roche, this was determined from 426 samples in two independent test centres.
Who are the quick tests for?
According to Roche, the rapid antigen test is intended for use in both symptomatic and asymptomatic people.
Where will they be used in the future?
The tests can now be used in medical facilities, a Roche spokeswoman ntv.de. According to Spahn, they are to be used in addition to the PCR tests, for example in schools, nursing homes or in returnees. At the entrance gate of retirement homes, for example, they could do "incredibly much good", says virologist Christian Drosten: They bring with them the possibility of being able to prevent severe visit restrictions.
Will the rapid tests be available in pharmacies?
No, not for the end consumer, as they need to be carried out by healthcare professionals, Roche says. However, they can be obtained from medical institutions through the pharmacy trade.
Why arethe rapid tests not freely available for sale?
The Infection Protection Act in Germany stipulates that only doctors are allowed to prove an infection. Therefore, the tests are not sold to private individuals through pharmacies. Treatment of other people can be interpreted by law as bodily injury, Kekulé explains in his podcast of the MDR.
To whom will the rapid tests be delivered?
The rapid tests are delivered to medical facilities via trade. It is available in all markets that accept the CE mark, Roche announced. In addition, the pharmaceutical company intends to apply for emergency approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the USA.
How much does a quick test cost?
Roche does not disclose pricing details. At ntv.de's request, it says that the prices are designed in such a way that they do not constitute a barrier to access to the tests.
What is the advantage of rapid testing over PCR testing?
Quick tests provide a test result within a few minutes and are easier to perform. They can partially replace the PCR tests and thus help to relieve laboratories. Virologists and scientists see an advantage especially if preventive testing is to be carried out. Standard PCR tests are too slow because the result is not determined until a day later in the laboratory. The capacity for the necessary mass tests in the autumn was not sufficient and is expensive, said virologist Alexander Kekulé in his MDR podcast.
What is the disadvantage of Corona Quick Tests?
Especially in the early days or later, rapid tests detect a corona infection much more unreliable than PCR tests. However, the accuracy of the standard PCR tests is not always an advantage, as they also detect "virus corpses", i.e. residues of viruses. The test is then positive, although the wearer is most likely no longer infectious. In the infectious phase, the rapid tests can detect the virus quite safely, according to Drosten - so they could be a quick and pragmatic way to detect whether a person is highly contagious.
Google translate:Rapid antigen tests are among the new autumn...
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