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The pause on speedy COVID-19 assessments carried out by the Utah Division of Well being might transform everlasting.
“I don’t suppose there’s a assure for something. I feel we have to determine what we will do. Proper now, it’s really very onerous to get the antigen assessments,” state epidemiologist Dr. Leisha Nolen mentioned Monday, the day after a short lived halt on speedy antigen testing was introduced at state-run websites on account of questionable outcomes.
At a information convention Sunday, she mentioned out of each 100 individuals who have been confirmed constructive for COVID-19 by way of a lab-processed PCR take a look at, solely 38% examined constructive on the GenBody speedy antigen take a look at used since late final 12 months, a a lot greater fee for false negatives than anticipated.
Even amongst these with signs that clearly indicated they have been contaminated COVID-19, the speedy antigen take a look at recognized solely 41% as having the virus, Nolen mentioned. The state well being division mentioned take a look at outcomes for almost 18,000 Utahns who took each kinds of assessments on the identical day have been analyzed after considerations have been raised final week.
“We have been actually involved by these numbers and we actually wish to consider why that is taking place. We want to do that pause moderately than give out inaccurate data,” she mentioned, and can work to find out if the problem is with the take a look at or how it's being administered.
Nolen mentioned Monday whereas the announcement was not a part of the state well being division’s plans to transition from treating COVID-19 as a pandemic illness, “it’s one thing that makes us suppose much more about how we get there. It would change the trail we go alongside.”
That might imply counting on dwelling take a look at kits for speedy outcomes, she mentioned, moderately than resuming antigen testing at state websites run by the state well being division in addition to contractors. New mass testing websites opened on the College of Utah and at Utah Valley College already provide solely PCR assessments. Outcomes for PCR assessments often take a minimum of 24 hours.
“We have to see what we will get and what we will provide for folks,” Nolen mentioned. “But additionally, we do wish to take into consideration what's the longer-term plan. How can we get to one thing the place folks can return to their regular lives and we will have well being care occurring the place we’re used to it.”
The state switched to utilizing GenBody speedy antigen assessments when the popular model, BinaxNOW, ran out, Nolen mentioned. The worth tag was greater than $5 million — $5.65 for 900,000 GenBody speedy antigen assessments, paid for with federal COVID-19 aid funds, state well being division spokesman Tom Hudachko mentioned.
Up to now, solely two different states, Texas and Kansas, are additionally utilizing the identical speedy antigen assessments, that are licensed by the federal Meals and Drug Administration, Nolen mentioned, however had not analyzed their knowledge. She mentioned the state well being division can also be speaking with the FDA and GenBody.
Not like Utah, Nolen mentioned most states both by no means provided speedy testing or have already shifted completely to PCR assessments.
“We're speaking to quite a lot of states to see how they transitioned to that type of method, making an attempt to contemplate what labored for them, what didn’t work for them, in order that we will think about it right here,” she mentioned. “So I feel the rationale why we’re uncommon is as a result of we even have been providing this. Most different states will not be.”
Take a look at websites run by the state have been so overwhelmed final month because the extremely transmissible omicron variant surged by way of Utah that Gov. Spencer Cox and different state officers, together with Nolen, urged most Utahns with COVID-19 signs to skip testing and isolate at dwelling.
Nolen mentioned omicron has lessened the worth for testing.
Earlier than omicron, “a take a look at was actually invaluable as a result of an infection was not tremendous widespread. So we couldn’t say it was seemingly you had an an infection. Throughout omicron, it’s simply been so seemingly that anyone who has signs has omicron that it virtually decreases the necessity for a take a look at,” she mentioned.
COVID-19 assessments “are good after we can weed out the few. However when so many are constructive, it’s not as necessary,” Nolen mentioned. “We will simply say you might be contaminated since you are presently a resident of Utah and an infection is so seemingly. As we go ahead, we’re going to need to reevaluate that, as a result of omicron goes away.”
Testing for COVID-19 could find yourself being changed by what she referred to as the “influenza method. You need to be an individual who can consider your individual standing and resolve, ‘OK, am I sick? I mustn't go expose different folks. Am I sick sufficient I have to see a physician? Can I take advantage of this dwelling take a look at I bought from one of many pharmacies?’”
Different states are already headed in that course, Nolen mentioned, treating the virus as endemic — nonetheless a menace, however not as widespread. She mentioned she believes omicron has peaked in Utah, but it surely’s removed from sure there received’t be one other variant to take its place.
“I’m hopeful that now we now have sufficient immunity in our group both due to the vaccine or due to folks’s earlier infections that even with some newer variant, it received’t be the intense that we noticed when all of us have been weak,” she mentioned. “However this virus might throw us a curveball.”
COVID-19 case counts are dropping in Utah, however with folks being discouraged from testing, they’re not seen as an correct reflection of infections within the state. Nolen mentioned she’s different markers, together with ER visits and wastewater samples, though hospitalizations and deaths stay excessive.
“I feel we have to plan for each choices. We will form of transfer in direction of the endemic state however have a backup plan of what occurs if one thing comes alongside that's going to restart all of it once more,” she mentioned, including any transfer might be gradual, together with a choice about restoring speedy testing.
“It received’t be an abrupt factor,” Nolen mentioned. “We’ll be positively speaking about it within the subsequent few weeks and see how issues go.”