Detection in schools, green light from CTS for rapid “antigenic” tests. Here is in which cases they will be used

me rapid “antigenic” tests can be used throughout Italy to limit the spread of COVID-19 between the banks of school. It was decided Scientific technical committee, positively evaluating the request made by the Ministry of Health. The agreement establishes that this type of tampon can be used in schools “for the exclusive purpose of put on screen“What does that mean? That in front of a I suspect covid, you will have a first answer inside 20-30 minutes and possibly extending the exam to all close contacts (for example, an entire class). In case of positivity, however, it will be necessary to undergo the molecular buffer have the definitive diagnosis. The objective, as indicated in the circular issued in the afternoon by the dicastery headed by Roberto Speranza, it is in fact to timely distinguish who has only one flu syndrome by whom, instead, has been infected by the virus. Therefore, with its decision, the CTS confirms that “antigenic” tests have areliability high enough to be used in multiple contexts. Until now, in fact, they have only been used in airports as the first “filter” for tourists arriving from countries considered at risk and in some pilot schools, including the scientist “Ignazio Vian” from Anguillara, in the province of Bracciano. Now the Spallanzani of Rome says it is ready to carry out an experiment on 800 thousand students, while the Emergency Commissioner Domenico Arcuri has launched a public tender request for 5 million kits.

The notice, similar to that of the single-seater meters issued during the summer, was prepared at the request of the Minister of Health, shared in content by the Scientific Technical Committee and published in all institutional sites. Offers for the supply of “antigens” (both salivary and nasopharyngeal) must be submitted before 6.30 pm on Thursday. October 8, 2020. Companies that intend to respond, read the press release issued by Arcuri staff, “must express their willingness to provide free loan for your use, if necessary, a sufficient number of machinery, at the distribution sites indicated by the Extraordinary Commissioner, for the administration of the tests delivered, as well as for delivery the evidence itself in the national territory with the appropriate means. “According to the commissioner, it is” a important step further intensify the activities of prevention, implemented by the government, to counter the epidemic. Today, in our country, they already occur on average one hundred thousand molecular tests per day. Our goal is to meet the needs related to international passenger movements areas of high contagion and the needs derived from schools reopening, especially in a period, such as autumn, of a verified increase in the circulation of all respiratory viruses “.

In fact, the first data from the institutes seems to confirm the urgency of having ASL as a new tool to keep infections at bay. According to the database developed by the two researchers Lorenzo ruffino me Vittorio Nicoletta, so far they are 738 schools in which there has been at least one case of Covid. In 75.8% of the cases it is the students who have become ill, while only 11.4% are teachers. Higher schools are the most affected with 31% of cases, but in few circumstances the authorities have ordered the closure of the entire structure. In recent days, the Ministry of Education has invited principals to include a system dedicated to the situation of the spread of infection in their schools to have a updated framework also to be able to intervene in case of criticality. Emilia Romagna, Lazio, Tuscany, Lombardy and Veneto are the worst affected regions. A situation that could be further complicated with the arrival of seasonal flu, whose symptoms are similar to those of Covid.

As stated in the ministry circular issued after approval of the TCs, in fact, it is legitimate to assume “that the frequency of febrile episodes in the school population in the autumn and winter period is particularly high, and it is often necessary to resort to tampon practice (antigenic, ed) to quickly exclude the possibility that it is Covid-19, as well as to promptly identify cases, isolate them and trace contacts, facilitating the decision to apply or not quarantine measures in a short time and with a considerable resource savings, avoiding excessive overload of the reference laboratories“. Faced with a suspicious case and faced with the risk of a possible infection of school personnel or students, it is therefore possible to resort to rapid antigen testing, which” implies the possibility of false negative results in the presence of low viral load in addition to the need to confirm positive results with molecular swab. “However,” other validations performed on “fresh” (freshly taken) samples were shown instead high sensitivity and specificity“Thanks to its use, the ministry concludes, so far” a significant number of infected people have been intercepted, probably with high viral loads, which they would not have been detected otherwise “.

What is different from the other methods? Apparently they look like the classic molecular swab, but instead of identifying the presence of the genetic material Sars-Cov2 in the patient’s secretions, they go looking for the famous protein spike covering the surface of the virus. The most popular model at the moment is always based on a cotton-fioc that an employee must pass through the nasopharyngeal tract, but the answer comes In a few minutes directly on site and no laboratory analysis is required. If the Covid viral protein (“antigen”) is present in sufficient quantities, it binds to specific antibodies fixed in the kit and confirms positivity for the virus. The analysis is carried out thanks to a small laptop. The first supply ordered by the emergency commissioner. Domenico Arcuri He expected a price of between 10.5 and 12 euros for the kit, but in recent weeks new producers have appeared on the international market. And the governor’s estimates Luca zaia, together with launching a purchase contest together with 4 other regions, they speak of a rate of around € 4.60 each.

Facing the validation of different models was the Spallanzani institute in Rome. What is now said to be ready to start a first test in 800 thousand students. “From next monday saliva test“Explained the medical director Francesco Vaia a timeline su SkyTg24. We will do tests in schools of all types and levels throughout Lazio with salivary tests from 3 to 6 years, for the older ones the antigenic nasopharyngeal swab ”. The reason is that salivary is “less invasive” than tampon and “even the smallest child can do it.” Then, in the case of suspected positivity, “confirmation with the molecular test follows, but another sampling should not be repeated. The first is used, ”explained Vaia. The saliva test “gives us great reliability and reliability if used in the right way, or to perform large test activities, which should be the main activity that public health you must ask yourself. “In our experience, concluded the director of Spallanzani,” we have not had false negatives but only false positives“: Being very sensitive, in fact,” you also run the risk of being detected low viral loads“.

It is also for this reason that attention to antigen testing (salivary and otherwise) is increasing around the world. In the United States, as the President of the United States announced yesterday Donald trump, a first supply comes from 6.5 million kits. Instead, the World Health Organization has signed an agreement with the African Center for Disease Control and a series of private foundations to make 120 million rapid tests available in low- and middle-income African countries. The package includes the use of high-quality antigen kits, manufacturer volume warranties, and a assistance fund governments to use and purchase these tests with an initial investment of 50 million dollars. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has agreed with two manufacturing companies to sell them at a maximum price of $ 5 each for a period of 6 months. “High-quality rapid tests show us where the virus hides – commented the WHO director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus – which is essential to quickly trace and isolate the contacts and interrupt the chain of transmission ”.

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