When to do the antigen test for new variants? – The financial

After more than two years of pandemic, COVID-19 is far from disappearing and now with the fifth wave it is very important to know when to do the antigen test for new variantssince the subvariants of omicron cause these tests to behave differently.

It has been shown that new omicron bloodlines are more contagious and have immune escape, which explains the accelerated increase in cases in the fifth wave of COVID. On the other hand, it is being observed that many people when taking the antigen test, in the first instance come out negative despite having all the symptoms.

Because of this epidemiologist, immunologist and pathologist Michael Mina He took on the task of explaining on his Twitter account why this happens, as well as when it is convenient to carry out the antigen test.

Antigen tests take time to be positive

The new subvariants of ómicron work differently than other variants of COVID and, according to what he explains, Mina these begin to spread with a very low viral load and symptoms appear before peak viral load is reached.

“Symptoms should be expected to emerge earlier now, as people’s immune systems don’t have to spend more than 5 days realizing that someone is infected with a new virus. Now our immunity kicks in quickly and, with it, the symptoms do too,” reads the epidemiologist’s Twitter thread.

Antigen tests work from a certain viral load and in the event that this is not high enough, it is most likely that a false negative will come out. In these new subvariants, although the viral load remains low, usually the immune response is activated quickly.

When to test?

Mina thinks that all possible precautions should be taken in the case of having symptoms and having a negative antigen test, as well as You should repeat the test after a while.