In an August 2021 study, researchers compared the validity of home antigen tests compared to PCR lab tests for detecting COVID-19 infection. Like other antigen COVID-19 tests, home COVID-19 tests have a higher chance of a false negative than a false positive - meaning it’s more likely that the test will indicate you don’t have COVID-19 when you do have it than report you do have it when you don’t. Rapid tests come with a high risk of giving a false negative result.Ī false negative means the test shows you don’t have COVID-19 when you do actually have it.Īt-home tests aren’t as accurate as gold standard PCR tests, but they still play a role in catching COVID-19 cases that otherwise would have gone undetected. ![]() Your sample is then usually applied to a strip that changes color if you test positive for COVID-19.Īlthough these tests provide quick results, they aren’t as accurate as laboratory tests because they require more of the virus in your sample to report a positive result. Rapid tests, also called point-of-care tests, can be performed at:ĭuring the test, you or a medical professional will insert a cotton swab into your nose, throat, or both to collect mucus and cells. However, the CDC stopped using the term “rapid” to describe antigen tests, because the FDA has also approved laboratory-based antigen tests. Most rapid tests are antigen tests, and sometimes the two terms are used interchangeably. The company is also working on the original LungCARD, with a focus on designing a new experimental strategy for detecting relevant mutations associated with lung cancer.Rapid COVID-19 tests often provide results within minutes and don’t need to be analyzed in a laboratory by a specialist. The STAB VIDA team continues to develop the Doctor Vida Pocket device, adapting it to different sample types, including blood and plasma. “We started with one technology for therapy guidance in lung cancer and ended up using another technology for diagnosing COVID-19,” says Flores. From lung cancer to COVID-19įlores says the project is a case study in the importance of flexibility in research. The device is also being used by veterinarians for rapid and convenient testing of animal disease, while in Peru, the International Potato Centre is using it to detect a potato virus. “It is a unique, all-in-one kit for sample collection and testing that delivers results via a mobile application in less than one hour,” says Flores.ĭoctor Vida Pocket is currently available in all continents, not only for COVID-19, but also for lactose and gluten intolerance screening and testing for diseases such as HIV, HPV and legionella. Today, Doctor Vida Pocket is the market’s smallest portable PCR device for diagnosing COVID-19. “We quickly realised our solution had the potential to diagnose this new disease, so we pivoted,” notes Flores. While Doctor Vida was undergoing clinical trials for point-of-care EGFR testing, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. “The result of this effort is Doctor Vida, a portable, handheld device that can be operated from any smartphone,” adds Flores. The goal this time: to advance the LungCARD into a complete point-of-care test capable of rapidly detecting EGFR mutations – a capability that would help clinicians accurately select the best therapy for NSCLC patients. So, the STAB VIDA team went back to the drawing board. While this initial iteration of the LungCARD proved to be better able to detect the relevant biomarkers, there was still room for improvement. “By developing an automatic system that can detect EGFR mutations using a simple blood test, we were able to eliminate the need for biopsy for EGFR testing,” remarks Flores. The problem with this approach is that it requires a biopsy, a procedure that many lung cancer patients are simply too sick to undergo. Traditionally, this screening is done in a number of ways, including DNA amplification technologies such as PCR and LAMP, both of which test for the presence of specific mutations in the tumour. “This means screening the patient for specific biomarkers, in this case mutations in the EGFR gene.” “The type of treatment a patient receives is largely dependent on mutation testing,” he explains. “Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer worldwide,” says Orfeu Flores, CEO at STAB VIDA, the project’s coordinating partner.Īccording to Flores, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 75 % of all lung cancers. The project originally set out to develop a point-of-care companion diagnostic solution capable of supporting treatment for lung cancer patients. The LungCARD project, undertaken with the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, is a case in point. Sometimes in research you start trying to solve one problem, only to end up solving another.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |