Hours-long lines for coronavirus PCR tests are prompting public officials to push the masses to use rapid, at-home antigen tests instead, but public health experts warn the 15-minute tests are sometimes prone to false negatives.
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker last week said: “Rapid tests, in some ways, are a more accurate measure of whether or not somebody is actually transmitting COVID than a PCR test is.” Dr. Davidson Hamer, Boston University Professor of Global Health and Medicine called the governor’s statement “strong.”
Dr. Todd Ellerin, director of infectious disease at South Shore Health said while there’s “some truth” to the governor’s statement, “it’s complicated.” We asked the experts to break down the accuracy of rapid at-home antigen tests, PCR tests and lay out when one should be used over the other. Answers have been edited slightly for clarity.PCR results, which are tested in a lab, are much more accurate. But if you look at the arc for a PCR, it can last much longer and is often picking up a past infection that may no longer be infectious. When a rapid test is positive, that’s probably the point when a person is most infectious.
We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
UC Berkeley student offers free COVID-19 PCR testing at pop-site, amid concerns over unauthorized sitesAlmost every day for the past three weeks, a University of California at Berkeley student has been volunteering her time to offer free COVID-19 testing services at her own makeshift testing site in Oakland, she's said, as a service to help her community.
Source: KTVU - 🏆 465. / 53 Read more »
Costs of Masks, Tests Deepen Pandemic Wedge Between Haves and Have-NotsPublic health experts have recently urged people to dump their cloth masks in favor of higher-quality options and to test more frequently to curb the virus.
Source: nbcchicago - 🏆 545. / 51 Read more »
Should You Throat Swab for At-Home COVID Testing? | Well+GoodExperts explain why you shouldn't do a throat swab for at-home COVID testing, and they break down what to do instead.
Source: iamwellandgood - 🏆 462. / 53 Read more »
New Gym Member Already Seeing Positive Coronavirus Test ResultsThe Onion brings you all of the latest news, stories, photos, videos and more from America's finest news source. dirtbagboyfren JustMorganTime !!!!!!!!! Seems very appropriate given the announcement moments ago to reopen gyms in bcpoli. The mask is generous almost no one wears them at my gym
Source: TheOnion - 🏆 724. / 51 Read more »
Covid-19 news: Falling cases in UK suggests omicron wave has peakedThe latest coronavirus news updated every day including coronavirus cases, the latest news, features and interviews from New Scientist and essential information about the covid-19 pandemic I'm just hoping all my vaccinated coworkers on quarantine are well enough to come back to work this week. Falling cases or falling reporting? Interesting to see how many standout Brexit-supporting areas won't vaccinate.
Source: newscientist - 🏆 541. / 51 Read more »
Covid-19 news: Joint flu and covid-19 vaccine could be offered in 2023Today’s covid-19 news: · Single covid-19 and flu vaccine could be available in 2023, says Moderna CEO · England coronavirus restrictions might end in March · Thousands of hamsters euthanised in Hong Kong following evidence of coronavirus transmission imagine getting vaxxed when u can just get ripped Hi, I am a structural engineer from Iran who have many ideas. I have summarized some of my ideas on my twitter(I suggest look at the idea of generating electricity by gravity). I want to work with companies and investors. Do you want to cooperate? If near Qiyamah you see the real Islam spreading from the land before Khurasan, then join even if you have to crawl with naked feet over the mountains to get there. A blessed dream of Muhammad Qasim. I think he is the Imam Al-Mahdi.
Source: newscientist - 🏆 541. / 51 Read more »