With the spread of the Omicron variant in France, pharmacies and laboratories are struggling with the test demand French want to take on a daily basis. To help them out, the Health Minister has validated the following protocol: a PCR test is no longer mandatory to confirm a positive antigen test.
Union trade for young medical biologist chairman Lionel Barrand says yet a PCR test will be required in the event of positive self-test, the latter being far less reliable. They can be false positive if badly used. Furthermore, only antigen and PCR tests enable to fill in a statement on the SI-DEP platform by a health professional and therefore get then a recovery certificate. To determine the variant, only a PCR test is useful.
Last week, a new test record has been set with a 20% increase compared to Christmas. Jean Castex acknowledged the “testing system is clearly under pressure”, but we must “hold on”.
Covid: saliva tests more effective to detect the Omicron variant, a study found
And what if saliva tests – or antigen with throat sample – were more effective to detect the Covid Omicron variant? This is what a pre-print study reads. Here is more on the matter! [Read more]
Faced with Covid Omicron variant – making antigen tests less reliable – should we test both in the nose and throat to get reliable results? Here is more on the matter! [Read more]
Covid: saliva tests more effective to detect the Omicron variant, a study found
Covid: antigen tests, should you test both in the nose and throat?
