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PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:
Not All Rapid Antigen Tests Are Equal!
Please do NOT assume metrics same across tests
Some work amazingly well to catch contagious virus. Some not
If you hear a rapid test isn't working well, dont assume its same for all of them
It's not
1/ https://twitter.com/michaelmina_lab/status/1327720372318441473
Not All Rapid Antigen Tests Are Equal!
Please do NOT assume metrics same across tests
Some work amazingly well to catch contagious virus. Some not
If you hear a rapid test isn't working well, dont assume its same for all of them
It's not
1/ https://twitter.com/michaelmina_lab/status/1327720372318441473
Rapid antigen tests must catch virus on a paper strip
To catch virus, test manufacturers use ANTIBODIES (yes, antibodies like the ones in your immune system) to catch the virus
They make the antibodies and embed them, in a line, on the paper strip.
Thus a line forms if +ve
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To catch virus, test manufacturers use ANTIBODIES (yes, antibodies like the ones in your immune system) to catch the virus
They make the antibodies and embed them, in a line, on the paper strip.
Thus a line forms if +ve
2/
Antibodies can come in all shapes and sizes (sort of)
Point is, some antibodies are much more specific and strong binders than others
Some are just... sticky. Some much more directed.
Some grab the virus more tightly - these may be used on the more sensitive rapid tests
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Point is, some antibodies are much more specific and strong binders than others
Some are just... sticky. Some much more directed.
Some grab the virus more tightly - these may be used on the more sensitive rapid tests
3/
Moral of this little tutorial is... rapid antigen tests are not all created equal and they are generally only as good as the antibodies selected (usually discovered by sequencing an infected persons B cells) and printed on the paper....
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Some newer rapid antigen tests are a bit (or a lot) better than some that came out many months ago
For the newer ones, companies have simply had more time to sequence more people's B cells and dig deeper to find better, stronger, more specific antibodies for the test
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For the newer ones, companies have simply had more time to sequence more people's B cells and dig deeper to find better, stronger, more specific antibodies for the test
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Lots of publications now have looked at the differences
So, If you're in a position to decide on a rapid testing program for your city, state or country - don't assume one test is same as the next. Simply put, and like everything in life, they simply aren't. :)
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So, If you're in a position to decide on a rapid testing program for your city, state or country - don't assume one test is same as the next. Simply put, and like everything in life, they simply aren't. :)
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