The FDA issued an emergency use authorization for a new pop in of COVID-19.
Here, a virologist and a physician explain the use of antigen tests.
Theantigen test the FDA just approved for COVID-19 is manufactured by the Quidel Corporation.
An antigen test is like the inverse of an antibody test, she says.
Its Amazing How Its All Connected.
Antigen tests just look for a protein thats already there and can be done in minutes.
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But a downside is that antigen tests arent as sensitive as PCR tests, says Dr. Favini.
To ensure accuracy, the FDA isrequiring negative antigentests to be confirmed by a PCR test.
COVID-19 PCR tests have been used enough for doctors and scientists to trust their accuracy, she says.
And theyre more surprised that this is not a perfect process.
A test doesnt have to be perfect to make an impact on public health, he says.
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