An
on-site coronavirus antigen test that can yield results in 15 minutes has been
granted emergency use authorization by the US Food and Drug Administration.
It is not
a home test, but can be used by professionals in doctors’ offices, urgent care
centers and even pharmacies. Because they are relatively quick and easy, they
have been eyed as a potentially valuable screening tool to quickly test large
numbers of people for the virus.
Dr.
Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, has said the US
need a "breakthrough"
in testing to screen large numbers of people, and antigen testing
would be just that.
The test
is still done by using a standard nose or throat swab to collect a sample. The
test searches for bits of the coronavirus called antigens – like the
characteristic spike-like protein on its surface. That’s instead of a test
you’ve likely heard of called a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, which
looks for the virus’ genetic material. PCR tests are more accurate, but they
are complex and take longer to deliver results – often days.
This is
the second antigen test to receive emergency use authorization from the FDA.
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