6 ms·

I wonder how far away we are from an affordable and relatively universal antigen test. Lately the Covid testing is starting to feel not unnecessary but more ina

I wonder how far away we are from an affordable and relatively universal antigen test. Lately the Covid testing is starting to feel not unnecessary but more inadequate. It would be nice if we could say "oh I have Rhinovirus A, I'm going to sit this out." Or "I checked and it's just Rhinovirus A, is that a problem?" RSV I assume people get it and recover all the time and are none the wiser. Seems like comprehensive tests that can at least tell you about the stuff of concern (Flu, RSV, Covid-19) would make people take the vaccines more seriously.

detaro 3y ago
They already exist. Cost about 5€ online here in Germany. (EDIT: removed info about them not being sold anymore, apparently that was resolved?)
n8henrie 3y ago
We use a flu A / flu B / RSV / COVID test (PCR) for virtually every respiratory patient in our rural ED (US). EDIT: We've only had it for the last 18 months or so. I was really shocked to discover how many older folks actually have RSV that I would previously have admitted as "probably a community acquired pneumonia" for mild hypoxia and maybe a highly questionable infiltrate on X-ray (read: probably no infiltrate but I need a diagnosis). Nice to now have a better excuse to consider holding back on antibiotics.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- inferiorhuman 3y ago
  Interesting. Here in San Francisco I went in to Kaiser for a PCR COVID test and they checked for flu A+B, but not RSV. I wonder how widespread the use of RSV tests is.
- 6nf 3y ago
  Does it change the treatment regime?
  - n8henrie 3y ago
    Yes, frequently. I explained one such case in my edit (which I think made it in prior to your comment but perhaps not).
    - 6nf 3y ago
      Well if the treatment depends on the test outcome why wouldn't you just test every case every time?
      - n8henrie 3y ago
        Because treatment doesn't always depend on the test outcome.
        6nf 3y ago
        Er so then don’t test in those cases? I don’t see your point.
        n8henrie 3y ago
        Yes, exactly. My point? I'm just answering your question, not sure what you're getting at.
hannob 3y ago
There are multi-virus tests. Not "an universal antigen test" (I think that'd be challenging, there are AFAIK hundreds of "normal common cold" viruses out there), but it's getting better. I got a 5-virus test for a study recently (Influenza A+B, Adenovirus, RSV, Covid). I haven't seen them to be sold for end customers. There are a few 4-virus tests on the market here, yet the legality is currently questionable here in Germany. (It seems there's an interpretation of the law that Influenza testing shall only be done by doctors.)

detaro 3y ago

They already exist. Cost about 5€ online here in Germany. (EDIT: removed info about them not being sold anymore, apparently that was resolved?)

n8henrie 3y ago

We use a flu A / flu B / RSV / COVID test (PCR) for virtually every respiratory patient in our rural ED (US). EDIT: We've only had it for the last 18 months or so. I was really shocked to discover how many older folks actually have RSV that I would previously have admitted as "probably a community acquired pneumonia" for mild hypoxia and maybe a highly questionable infiltrate on X-ray (read: probably no infiltrate but I need a diagnosis). Nice to now have a better excuse to consider holding back on antibiotics.

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
inferiorhuman 3y ago
Interesting. Here in San Francisco I went in to Kaiser for a PCR COVID test and they checked for flu A+B, but not RSV. I wonder how widespread the use of RSV tests is.
6nf 3y ago
Does it change the treatment regime?
- n8henrie 3y ago
  Yes, frequently. I explained one such case in my edit (which I think made it in prior to your comment but perhaps not).
  - 6nf 3y ago
    Well if the treatment depends on the test outcome why wouldn't you just test every case every time?
    - n8henrie 3y ago
      Because treatment doesn't always depend on the test outcome.
      - 6nf 3y ago
        Er so then don’t test in those cases? I don’t see your point.
        n8henrie 3y ago
        Yes, exactly. My point? I'm just answering your question, not sure what you're getting at.

hannob 3y ago

There are multi-virus tests. Not "an universal antigen test" (I think that'd be challenging, there are AFAIK hundreds of "normal common cold" viruses out there), but it's getting better. I got a 5-virus test for a study recently (Influenza A+B, Adenovirus, RSV, Covid). I haven't seen them to be sold for end customers. There are a few 4-virus tests on the market here, yet the legality is currently questionable here in Germany. (It seems there's an interpretation of the law that Influenza testing shall only be done by doctors.)