• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Explore Health Plans
    • Individual & Family
    • Medicare Plans
    • Life Insurance
    • Dental & Vision
    • Small Group
    • Travel Health
  • Resource Blog
  • (855) 522-2201
  • Menu Menu
Healthedly-Blog

At-Home Tests May Miss New Variant

News

Some at-home tests may miss variant Omicron in early stages of infection

Experts recently discovered that the Abbott BinaxNOW and Quidel QuickVue rapid at-home COVID tests might sometimes miss traces of the Omicron variant in the first days after contraction.

The researchers create a focus group with 30 people infected with COVID at five different workplaces. These participants experienced what were most likely outbreaks of the Omicron variant that began last month. The focus group received both saliva-based PCR tests and rapid antigen-based tests involving nasal swabs.

It took three days, on average, for the group to test positive on the two rapid antigen tests. After their first positive PCR result, researchers reported that in four cases, participants of the study transmitted the virus to others even after a negative result.

Moreover, studies have also surfaced that some people who initially tested negative on antigen nose-swab tests then went on to receive a positive result after swabbing the back of their throats.

The latest study is consistent with other preliminary evidence that the at-home tests may fail to detect some Omicron cases in the early days of infection.

Thus, people should remain cautious after getting negative results, especially when they exhibit symptoms or believe they may have come into contact with the virus.

Why are the rapid at-home tests missing Omicron in the early stages of infection? They only detect proteins lying on the surface of the coronavirus. Experts say that if mutations in the virus change the structure of these proteins, antigen tests might miss the variant.

The study comes a week after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released its own update on the effectiveness of the rapid antigen tests. But early data suggests that antigen tests do detect the Omicron variant but may reduce sensitivity.

Many of those studies began too early with small focus groups, so much more data is needed.

The at-home tests can deliver results in minutes and positive results are more reliable. They can be an important tool alongside PCR tests, which can take days to come back. However a significant amount of testing still needs to be done.

The FDA update was not the first sign of decreased sensitivity with the rapid tests. Overall, the researchers found that the tests were less sensitive to Omicron than to previous variants.

Hopefully in the near future, at-home tests will be able to distinguish the Omicron variant from other variants.

 Looking for the right insurance for you and your family? Start by getting a free quote today!

 Don’t forget that it’s never too late to enroll with Healthedly Insurance Services for your life insurance.

 

January 13, 2022
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Reddit
https://healthedly.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Healthedly-Blog.png 900 1366 healthedly23 https://healthedly.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Healthedly.svg healthedly232022-01-13 16:22:002022-10-13 11:18:02At-Home Tests May Miss New Variant

Categories

  • ACA
  • COVID-19
  • Dental
  • Finance
  • Flu Season
  • General
  • Group Insurance Plans
  • Health
  • Health Resources
  • Individual and Family
  • Life Insurance
  • Medicaid
  • Medicare
  • Mental Health
  • News
  • Obamacare
  • Self-care
  • Short Term
  • Small Business
  • Special Enrollment Period
  • Supplemental
  • Travel Medical
  • Vision

Archives

  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021

Healthedly
Call: (855) 522-2201

Email: support@healthedly.com

2929 N Central Expy Ste 175, Richardson, TX 75080

Insurance Plans

Individual & Family Plans

Medicare Plans

Life Insurance Plans

Dental & Vision Plans

Small Business Health Plans

Travel Health Plans

Shop By State

Resources

Español

Healthedly Blog

Insurance Payment Options

Special Enrollment Period

Medicaid & CHIP

Health Insurance FAQs

Community Events

Elite Plus Circle of Champions

This website is operated by Healthedly Insurance Services, LLC. It is not the Health Insurance Marketplace website. Not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.

Leave Us A Review  |  Privacy Policy

© Copyright Healthedly Insurance Services, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
Biden Administration To Offer Free At-Home Covid-19 TestsHealthedly-BlogHealthedly-BlogIs It Possible To Diagnose MS Early?
Scroll to top