![]() ![]() "Because these things are more available than PCR testing, each person, if they're able to get hold of them, can test themselves serially," Lam said, adding that people should test multiple days after the onset of symptoms. The key to using them effectively against BA.2 is to test early and frequently. Nevertheless, rapid antigen tests have the advantage of being widely available and delivering a result within minutes, he said. "So the test might not even have time to pick it up before it jumps from one person to another person." "One aspect about omicron is biologically, it likely is more infective than the other previous variants," Lam said. Wilbur Lam, a physician and biomedical engineer who works with the federal government in assessing COVID-19 diagnostic tests. However, given the higher infectivity of BA.2, there is a chance that the virus might infect others before a positive result is seen on a rapid test, according to Dr. Health What to do if you test positive for COVID at this point in the pandemic "But they do work to pick up an infection, and they should be used frequently." "There's usually a day or two delay between when you might test positive on a PCR versus when you might test positive on one of these at-home rapid antigen tests," Gounder said. Celine Gounder, a senior fellow and editor-at-large for public health at Kaiser Health News. That said, rapid tests might take longer to yield a positive result, according to Dr. Rapid antigen tests work against BA.2, but there are some caveatsĪlthough we've long known that rapid tests have a lower degree of accuracy compared to the standard PCR test, there is no indication they are any less effective at detecting BA.2 than previous variants we've seen. Here is what two health experts have to say. While these rapid tests are useful in detecting the spread of COVID-19, the high infectivity of BA.2 and concerns around self-reporting have given rise to a number of questions. At the same time, rapid at-home antigen tests have become the first choice diagnostic tool for many people who think they might be infected. Close contact is defined as someone who you have been within 6 feet of for more than 15 minutes.Rapid tests are effective in detecting BA.2, but the high infectivity of the subvariant means it could jump from person to person before a positive result is detected.ĬOVID-19 cases have been slowly ticking up in the U.S., with the omicron BA.2 subvariant now the dominant strain in the country. There is further information available from CDPHE here.įinally, think about a list of individuals that you believe you have been in close contact with in order to share that information with a Pitkin County contact tracer when they get in touch with you about next steps. This is the best way to notify the local Public Health department of your positive result and receive further recommendations and support options. You should then report your result through the Colorado Binax Reporting hub, here. If you are experiencing a medical emergency please call 911. You may also contact your medical provider to discuss possible treatment options. Q: What should I do if my test is positive?Ī: If your BinaxNow at home test comes back positive, this is a true positive and you should isolate for at least 10 days from the date your symptoms started. You can find testing resources in Pitkin County here. If you are symptomatic but test negative with the BinaxNow at home test, you should continue to isolate ( click here for guidance) and seek out PCR testing to verify results. Q: What should I do if my test is negative?Ī: If you BinaxNow at home test is negative and you are not experiencing symptoms, you can continue with your day to day activities. These tests can also be used to test symptomatic individuals to determine if someone has an active COVID-19 infection. This serial testing effort allows individuals to detect an infection quickly, thus reducing the risk of transmitting the virus to others and being able to access essential care earlier. ![]() Q: When should I use the BinaxNow at home?Ī: BinaxNow home tests are best performed twice weekly as part of a serial testing effort by the individual. Samples are collected via a self-administered nasal swab and results are available in 15 minutes. Antigen tests detect COVID-19 viral proteins on samples in order to determine if someone currently has the virus. Q: What is BinaxNow?Ī: BinaxNow is a COVID-19 antigen test that was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). To read more about the program as well as how to order tests, please read more here. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has begun distributing over the counter BinaxNow rapid antigen COVID-19 tests directly to the home of Coloradans.
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