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Rapid antigen tests for coronavirus have some advantages over PCR tests, but they also have disadvantages. How do they work, how reliable are they, and what should be followed?
Rapid coronavirus tests are useful in a number of situations, but they are far from a panacea. Below is some of the most important information related to them:
How do rapid antigen tests work?
For these tests, a sample is taken from the lining of the nose or pharynx. If any of the virus antigens are positive, the test is positive.
COVID-19 infection goes through three phases: the first is the infection itself. Then, the person becomes highly contagious to others, but without necessarily presenting symptoms. Eventually, it may show symptoms and hardly any new viruses, but it can still infect other people.
Rapid tests detect viruses in the most important stage for the spread of the disease. A positive result must be verified with a PCR test, and a negative result is no guarantee that the test will not spread infection.
What are the advantages of rapid tests?
Rapid tests are significantly cheaper than PCR tests. They are not sent to a lab, but show the result in just a few minutes. This eliminates the risk of errors during transport or sample replacement and makes laboratories easier.
Who can do rapid tests?
Kindergartens and schools in Germany have the right to undergo rapid tests, which until now were only available to doctors and hospitals. As to whether the tests can also be performed by non-professionals, there is currently no unanimity: errors in sampling or processing could affect the result. Therefore, doctors are opposed to the use of these tests by non-specialized people. Experts also insist that the tests be performed under sterile conditions, which do not exist in most places.
The Robert Koch Institute, for its part, advises the appointment of hygiene managers in kindergartens and schools so that they are trained to carry out the tests. The Thuringian Ministry of Health and the Lower Saxony Chamber of Physicians recommend that rapid tests be carried out only by qualified medical personnel or by trained persons. While the associations of teachers and patients insist on the use of tests also by external personnel.
Is there enough evidence?
According to Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn, Germany has contracted more than 60 million rapid coronavirus tests. However, he squelched hopes that these tests would be available to nursing homes and social homes by Christmas – there just aren’t enough supplies so far, but this will get better.
How reliable are rapid tests?
The precision of rapid tests is not as high as that of PCR tests. Also, according to the Paul Ehrlich Institute, the Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedical Medicines, they are much less reliable. Virologist Christian Drosten from the Charité Clinic in Berlin warns that massive testing can lead to very false positive results. So far, only seven independent checks have been carried out on the accuracy of the rapid tests offered in Germany, totaling a total of two hundred types.
Germany
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