Rapid screening tests still little used by the provinces | COVID-19 | News | The Nouvellist



[ad_1]

S.anté Canada has approved more than three dozen types of tests, but only six of these have out-of-lab testing capabilities for COVID-19, hence their nickname of the rapid test.

The detection of COVID-19 in the laboratory, which is the reference standard, takes at least a day before arriving at the result. Rapid detection tests can provide the result, sometimes in as little as 15 minutes and in the patient’s position.

There are two categories of quick tests. One is looking for the genetic material of the new coronavirus, such as laboratory tests. The other looks for antigens, i.e. the traces that the virus leaves outside the cell.

As of September 29, Canada has announced its intention to acquire nearly 38 million COVID-19 rapid tests from five different manufacturers. The first distributions to the provinces began in late October.

To date, more than 3.8 million rapid tests have been delivered to the provinces.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford called the announcement of the acquisition of these rapid detection kits a “game changer” in the fight against the pandemic.

Canada signed an agreement in late September with Abbott Diagnostics in the United States to purchase 7.9 million “ID Now” tests.

No changes observed yet

For the time being, little change has been observed in the provinces with the arrival of these rapid detection tests.

This is because most provinces are still questioning the reliability of the results obtained or how to use these tests more effectively. In almost all cases, each rapid detection test used was accompanied by a laboratory analysis to ensure the validity of the diagnosis.

[ad_2]
Source link