At-home rapid tests for COVID-19 may be less accurate in detecting omicron than other variants, according to the FDA. The agency said Tuesday that early data suggests antigen tests do detect the omicron variant but may have “reduced sensitivity.”Abbott Labs, which makes the BinaxNOW rapid tests in Maine, issued a statement following the FDA’s findings. “We’ve conducted lab analyses and tests on the omicron variant from live virus, including from the first U.S. omicron case, and BinaxNOW detected the virus in all tests we performed at equivalent sensitivity as other variants. Additionally, our data from customer use has not shown any change in test performance,” Abbott stated. On Wednesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, still encouraged people to use rapid tests. “The tests are still worthwhile. Don’t let anybody think that the FDA was saying that tests are no longer good,” Dr. Fauci said in an interview on “Good Morning America.””What the FDA is saying today is that when you look at omicron, its ability to detect omicron, some of the tests have a diminution further of the sensitivity, but they still say the tests are useful and should be used,” Fauci said. Experts still recommend following up with a PCR test if you have COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed to someone who tested positive.
At-home rapid tests for COVID-19 may be less accurate in detecting omicron than other variants, according to the FDA.
The agency said Tuesday that early data suggests antigen tests do detect the omicron variant but may have “reduced sensitivity.”
Abbott Labs, which makes the BinaxNOW rapid tests in Maine, issued a statement following the FDA’s findings.
“We’ve conducted lab analyses and tests on the omicron variant from live virus, including from the first U.S. omicron case, and BinaxNOW detected the virus in all tests we performed at equivalent sensitivity as other variants. Additionally, our data from customer use has not shown any change in test performance,” Abbott stated.
On Wednesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, still encouraged people to use rapid tests.
“The tests are still worthwhile. Don’t let anybody think that the FDA was saying that tests are no longer good,” Dr. Fauci said in an interview on “Good Morning America.”
“What the FDA is saying today is that when you look at omicron, its ability to detect omicron, some of the tests have a diminution further of the sensitivity, but they still say the tests are useful and should be used,” Fauci said.
Experts still recommend following up with a PCR test if you have COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed to someone who tested positive.