FDA: Antigen tests may have reduced sensitivity detecting Omicron

[brooklynite]

Source: Politico

Covid-19 antigen tests may be less capable of detecting the fast-spreading Omicron variant, the Food and Drug Administration cautioned on Tuesday.

The new warning is based on preliminary studies by the National Institutes of Health’s Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics initiative using patient samples with live virus — analysis that “represents the best way to evaluate true test performance in the short-term,” according to FDA.

“Early data suggests that antigen tests do detect the Omicron variant but may have reduced sensitivity,” the FDA said on Tuesday.

Omicron's large number of mutations have raised the possibility that it could evade protections against Covid that had come through vaccines and treatments like some monoclonal antibodies. The FDA noted the presence of mutations in the virus can diminish test performance depending on the sequence of the variant, the design of the test and the prevalence of the variant in the population.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/12/28/fda-antigen-tests-reduced-sensitivity-omicron-526217

[quaint]

1. Bumping for exposure.

[NullTuples]

2. Antigen tests rapid at home tests, yes? The ones that the CDC's holiday plan was based on?

I find it hard to believe that they did not know the tests may be unreliable a few days ago.

[StarryNite]

3. swell

[Deep State Witch]

4. Marvellous.

I had a scratchy throat, low-grade fever, headache, and fatigue yesterday. I kind of freaked out, because I've been very careful. I was tested about a week ago, following a large event in DC that I attended, and came back negative. So, my husband and I slept in separate areas last night, and I masked up in the house. We drove around today trying to get tested with no luck. Finally, the Gods smiled upon us, and we found tests at Walgreen's. Both of us came back negative. I will test again in a few days, especially if I continue to feel off. I mean, I'm prone to sinus infections, especially this time of year. So, it's hopefully just a sinus infection.

[TexasBushwhacker]

5. That's exactly the right thing to do

In fact, the home tests are inaccurate enough (15%) that most contain 2 tests. One to take first and then another to take 36 to 48 hours later. That way, statistically, you're getting within 15% of 15% in terms of it being correct. That's 2.25%. Of course, you may have the flu.

[Deep State Witch]

6. Feeling Better Today

Well, except for being tired because I got up at 6 AM to get to the testing facility closest to me early.