Antigen screening tests for coronavirus in the body, which have the advantage of delivering a result in just a few minutes, are less sensitive to the Omikron variant than to previous variants, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned on Tuesday.
The FDA explains that the lower sensitivity to the Omicron means that these tests are more likely to show a negative result despite the infection. “Preliminary data suggest that antigen tests detect the Omikron variant well, but with reduced sensitivity,” the Agency said in a statement.
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However, she indicated that she would continue to authorize their use by following the exact instructions for use.
“If a person is negative in the antigen test, but suspects that they have Covid-19 based on symptoms or a high probability of infection from contact with a sick person, it is important to continue with a molecular test or PCR,” stressed the FDA, recalling that antigen tests detect antigens on the surface of the virus, while PCR tests look for the genetic material of the virus.
Even so, antigen tests, sometimes called rapid tests, are widely promoted by experts in the US because they can be regularly performed at home once purchased and thus help control the outbreak.
Last week, US President Joe Biden announced the purchase of 500 million Quick Home Tests that Americans will be able to order through a dedicated website starting in January.
Do you want to test your COVID-19 immunity after vaccination? Have you been infected and want to check your antibody levels? See the COVID-19 immunity test package, which you will perform at Diagnostics network points.
Read also:
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