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Rapid tests reaching between the school desks. After the controversy of the last weeks, yesterday the Technical Scientific Committee finally gave the green light to try antigeniche. The CTS technicians have in fact validated a draft of the Ministry of Health, considering this type of test reliable and usable even for the smallest, as already happens in airports to filter tourists arriving from countries at risk and in some pilot schools . However, before it is fully operational, more very short experiments will be conducted. The first to come out will be the one from the Spallanzani Institute in Rome, which is said to be ready to examine 800,000 students.
School, from CTS green light to rapid swabs for detection. And Merkel praises Italy
Covid, Vaia (Spallanzani): “Saliva test in Lazio schools, the test starts on Monday”
PUT ON SCREEN
Then, as soon as they are available in adequate quantities (the commissioner Domenico Arcuri has already launched a public request for an offer for the supply of 5 million units that will close on October 8) the antigenci, the real name of this type of tampon. It will therefore be used in all Italian schools, but only “for the exclusive purpose of screening”. That is, in the event that a student is suspected of being Covid-positive, all close contacts maintained by him (for example, an entire class) can be tested in 20-30 minutes. However, if the rapid test is positive, a molecular swab will be necessary to have a definitive diagnosis. Faced with less invasiveness and higher speed, antigenic tests are in fact considered less reliable. What changes, in addition to the methods of obtaining the salivary sample, is the way of identifying the virus. While rapid tests look for their proteins (the antigens in fact), “traditional” swabs look for portions of the viral genome giving results that are often unquestionable.
Swabs
The latter however. as many fear, if done multiple times, they could end up physically and psychologically damaging to children. In fact, it is a rather annoying test that, more than anything, could scare the little ones: a kind of long “cotton swab” is inserted in the nostrils and another in the throat, reaching as far as possible. However, if done correctly, there would be no side effects. “Children are not at any special risk if the procedure is performed correctly”, explains Giuseppe Mele, president of the Italian Society of Pediatricians (Simpe) and consultant for the Consulcesi training courses. “The tests are carried out by specialized personnel – continues the expert – so there is nothing to fear”. Or at least nothing serious. The dangers of the procedure, according to the pediatrician, would not be so different from those of a vaccine: “For example, when a vaccine is administered there is a danger that the needle will break or that the injection could provoke a reaction and trigger, for example, a mild illness or flu, but the benefit for the child and the community certainly represents a greater advantage. “For the pediatrician, therefore, we must not lose sight of the objective.” That is to say – he concludes – to have a snapshot of the spread of the virus to be able to adapt countermeasures ”.
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