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Tracking the number of people in Canada receiving doses

Brooklyn Newstadt CTVNews.ca writer

As concerns about the spread of the new Omicron COVID-19 variant permeate Canadians’ holiday plans, experts say quick tests can be used to help protect those who wish to reunite with friends and family. However, they warned that these tests are not perfect.

Dr. Nitin Mohan, an epidemiologist and assistant professor at Western University, told CTVNews.ca that rapid antigen testing can provide on-site results in about 20 minutes, and "absolutely" can be used to further protect Canadians who plan to spend time with their families this holiday be with friend.

Mohan said in a telephone interview on Monday: “The purpose of a quick test is to provide an indication of someone’s status at the time.” “[It] provides an additional layer of data that allows you to understand where you are and how to spread the virus. Possibility for more vulnerable people."

However, Mohan said that rapid testing is only "one of the many layers of protection" against COVID-19 and cannot replace vaccines. He said that those who wish to gather during the holidays should be fully vaccinated, and if they meet the conditions, they can also receive a booster vaccine.

"Omicron, if not now, will soon become the main strain in Canada," Mohan said. "So, if you want to be extra careful when doing a quick test before the event to make sure you know that you will not spread the virus to anyone present, I think this is a good idea."

Mohan admitted that “nothing is more accurate than polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing.” Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing is widely regarded as the “gold standard” for COVID-19 testing in Canada, but the turnaround time is longer— -Usually up to three days. However, he said that rapid testing "within 80% and 90% of sensitivity and specificity" can help quickly identify COVID-19 cases.

"In terms of quick tests, we didn't see a 99% confidence level, but they are still quite high," Mohan said. "So I think people still have obvious intrinsic value in using quick tests."

Dr. Fahad Razak, a member of the Ontario Science Council and an internal medicine physician at St. Michaels Hospital in Toronto, told CTV News that as more spreadable variants continue to exist, rapid antigen testing has an "important role" at this point in the pandemic.

"Our assessment is based on the Delta variant, which is extremely contagious," he said on Thursday. "We know that Omicron may be more contagious than Delta."

Razak said current data indicate that rapid antigen testing is "very effective" in screening for the current version of the COVID-19 virus circulating in asymptomatic people.

Razak said that the accuracy of the rapid antigen test depends on the characteristics of the virus, and explained that as the virus becomes more contagious, the test actually works better.

Nevertheless, Razak emphasized that rapid antigen testing should be used to monitor asymptomatic people.

He said: "This is for monitoring among people who are starting to spread, and you want to prevent these outbreaks from happening." "For Delta, these tests seem to be very effective in that application."

However, Dr. Matthew Orton, an infectious disease expert at the Montreal Jewish General Hospital and McGill University, said it is important to remember that rapid testing is not perfect.

Orton said in a telephone interview with CTVNews.ca on Monday: "This is not perfect. No one should assume that, especially in the case of rapid testing, a negative test means that you are absolutely unlikely to be infected and may have Contagious."

Although the negative result of the rapid test may reduce the possibility of infection, Orton said that "still cannot rule out the possibility" of someone attending a party without knowing that they are infected.

But because Omicron is “not only more contagious, but also faster,” Oughton said, if used properly and in a timely manner, rapid testing can be a good tool for deciding to visit family on vacation.

"For Omicron, this means you can't rely on the old negative test," Oughton said. "So if you plan to have some form of gathering, it really makes sense to have a quick test as soon as possible before the gathering."

However, he emphasized that if asymptomatic individuals have a positive rapid test result or show symptoms of COVID-19, they still need to undergo PCR testing at the testing center and should "treat themselves as contagious" until they get the PCR result test. received.

Concerned about the spread of Omicron, Oughton said Canadians need to continue to be cautious during the holidays, adding that rapid testing is not the only measure Canadians should use when gatherings.

He said that maintaining current public health measures, including washing hands, wearing masks and reducing social contact, can help reduce the risk of holidays.

"Even if you have a rapid test on the day of the party, even if the rapid test is negative, if you start to develop symptoms, then I would encourage people not to go to the party, because the rapid test is always missed," Orton said.

File from Hannah Jackson at CTVNews.ca

Document-The Panbio COVID-19 rapid test equipment from Abbott Laboratories is displayed on the pop-up COVID-19 test site on the campus of Dalhousie University in Halifax on Wednesday, November 23, 2021. Canadian Media/Andrew Vaughan

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