Corona rapid tests work well enough to detect an infection in people without complaints. This is evident from a study by the UMC Utrecht among hundreds of professional football players on Friday.
In collaboration with the KNVB, the researchers conducted a month-long study among referees, football players and staff members of thirteen professional football clubs, including PSV and AZ, who recently had to deal with a corona outbreak. FC Utrecht, ADO, PEC Zwolle and SC Cambuur also participated.
Since the start of the competition in September, the clubs have had to have themselves tested every week with a regular PCR test. In just over a month, 824 soccer players were also repeatedly tested with a so-called anti-rapid test by Abbott. Compared to the results of the PCR test, the antigen test (which gives a result within fifteen minutes) appears to be almost as accurate in the early phase of infection.
The ability to quickly identify a corona infection and rapid contact tracing are essential for managing the current pandemic, according to UMC Utrecht. “In most countries, testing is aimed at individuals with symptoms of possible infection with the virus. However, people can be contagious even before symptoms appear and some infections are asymptomatic,” said lead researcher Marije Hofstra.
Rapid test also offers potential benefits to schools and nursing homes
The quick tests also provide many advantages for professional clubs. Because the results arrive faster than with a PCR test, they can in principle get a better grip on a possible corona outbreak. If a player has tested positive, he can be more quickly in isolation to prevent spread.
The rapid test can not only be a solution for top sport, the test can also be used, for example, in schools and care homes to prevent a possible major outbreak. For example, if someone in a class has tested positive, according to Hofstra, the test can help to get the situation under control earlier by also checking people without complaints with these quick tests.
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