In recent months, Omicron has become the most dominant variant of the Coronavirus pandemic. It is more likely to trigger re-infections in previously infected individuals and cause breakthrough infections in vaccinated persons when compared to other variations, resulting in healthcare systems studying more about it and adjusting current safety protocols.
Coronavirus tests have been at the forefront of quickly detecting affected individuals, making them helpful in alleviating the spread of the virus.
Rapid antigen tests can identify viral proteins of the virus using a nasopharyngeal and nasal swab. The test is quick and usually takes about fifteen minutes to an hour to get results. However, due to the existence of Omicron, conducting reassessments of the effectiveness of the rapid antigen COVID-19 test in detecting infection is necessary.
Studies have found that rapid tests may not be able to detect the virus precisely. According to research, all the rapid antigen test kits on the market have produced false-negative findings during the first few days.
While rapid antigen testing is less dependable compared to a PCR test near me as they have lower sensitivity, it still plays a massive role in determining COVID-19 cases that would otherwise go undetected.
Given the high-level spread of COVID-19 and the low sensitivity of lateral flow tests under the Omicron variant, discovering one negative rapid antigen test result does not mean interpreting it as a reason to halt or ease up precautionary measures. Similarly, it is vital to treat someone who received a positive rapid test result as if they have the virus and should isolate immediately.
Although testing is practical, conducting more research is essential to determine whether or not rapid antigen tests are capable enough of detecting Omicron.
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