With the Omicron mutation apparently prevalent in Cyprus and with a large proportion of citizens making use of rapid antigen detection tests the question of whether these give correct results with the new strain seems to be on the minds of many citizens.
"Rapid tests are no less sensitive to the Omicron mutation," Michael Mina, a professor of epidemiology at Harvard University School of Public Health, points out in a Twitter post, citing British research. The professor even describes as "vague" the statement to the contrary by the US Federal Drug Administration (FDA), which has caused a stir in recent days.
Vague also characterises the announcement as Caroline Stylianou, Population Control Programme Coordinator of the Ministry of Health invited by the Cyprus Times to comment on whether rapid antigen detection tests may give wrong results. And she first explained that it does not mean that the tests available in America are the same as those we have in Europe.
"All rapid antigen detection tests, can detect from a certain viral load and above and this is something we have known from the beginning. What people should not forget is that from day one there is a recommendation, which is given in writing in the message they receive on their mobile phones when they have a rapid test, that even with a negative rapid test if there are symptoms we should inform our personal doctor, who will refer us for a molecular test. So, we inform our doctor in case we have symptoms compatible with covid even if the rapid test is negative" explains Ms Stylianou. And she clarifies that it should not be assumed that rapid detection tests give wrong results.
And she reminds that antigen tests are not diagnostic, they give the picture of the moment. "And they enable us to detect in time people positive to the virus with high viral load who are also more contagious, to isolate them in order to stop the spread. When we have symptoms, we should not rest, we should also carry out PCR," she says.
Ms Stylianou was asked to comment on reports from citizens that while they were diagnosed positive through PCR they also carry out rapid tests - on their own or in pharmacies - and these come out negative. "The rapid antigen, which is also the self-test since it is a kind of rapid test, detects a certain protein of the virus that is present in our secretions that are in the nose mainly and in the throat for a certain period of time. After a certain point this protein is not detected, while the genetic material of the virus remains which we detect by molecular testing. It is logical that after a certain period of time it is not detected, so when you have covid symptoms you have to do molecular testing," she explains.
Mrs Stylianou was also asked to answer whether there is sufficiency in rapid antigen detection tests and she answered in the affirmative.
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