Are COVID tests able to accurately detect Kraken strains? Producers describe how kits are created to combat variants
As the number and severity of ‘Kraken COVID cases continues to rise, more people are turning to testing.
Many are dusting off stockpiles from when tests were handed out for free during the pandemic – prompting fears about the validity of expired kits.
Patients are also wondering if the new escaped ‘Kraken’ mutation – the most transmissible strain yet, according to the World Health Organization – can be accurately traced with current tests.
Producers say the answer is yes.
What is the working principle of COVID testing?
The two most popular COVID tests, the lateral flow test and the nucleic acids amplification test (NAAT), are both commonly used. Some countries refer to them as PCR tests.
Antigens, a type of protein found on the COVID cell surface, are what lateral flow tests look for. A positive line will be shown if the cassette contains a threshold amount of antigens. The intensity of the line will depend on how strong or weak the patient’s virus load.
The government has made rapid flow antigen testing available, or individuals can purchase them. Individuals then test their own blood and submit the results to public health agencies.
The PCR tests take a sample from the patient and isolate the genetic material, not proteins, before amplifying it. The sample is then sent back to the laboratory. Because the PCR tests are amplified millions upon millions of times, they are more sensitive as they are analyzed in greater detail.
Can COVID tests detect variants?
Surescreen Diagnostics, a UK-based company, sent rapid antigen tests for COVID around the globe. It covered Europe, Australia, and Latin America.
Andrew Wilcher, chief executive, of the family-owned company, stated that there have been no issues with their lateral flow testing for mutation detection. He said that the company does “continuing monitoring” and will perform new clinical tests as soon as a new strain has been identified.
Penny echoed his sentiments McCormickBhavika Patel, who is the CEO of MyHealthChecked, and Bhavika Patel, who serves as a technical advisor on its advisory board. McCormick stated that the company had distributed 17 million tests in the U.K. during 2022, and that demand was fairly steady throughout the year.
McCormick stated that there has been no evidence to suggest that tests have not worked on COVID variants such as Kraken. McCormick said she believes that all test providers around the world, including her own, continue to test their tests for new mutations.
What about future strains?
Experts believe that future strains of the virus will be tested. Even in the past, testing has helped to identify new strains.
Patel explained that PCR tests can be used to better understand the virus. Different genes are targeted, making them more sensitive and precise. We look for S Gene dropouts in our tests, which can be a crucial indicator for health authorities. This is actually how the Omicron variation was identified.
She explained that data from PCR is sent back to national health authorities each day. Governments then decide how best to share their findings with other countries as well as with the World Health Organization.
Are home tests subject to expiration?
They should not be used.
Experts believe people are using outdated COVID tests, which were once free in certain countries but are no longer. People are using what they have instead of purchasing new COVID tests.
“Expiry date are industry standards and are required if you wish to license your product.” Wilcher stated that rapid flow tests usually have an expiration date between two and three years.
Are you able to use outdated tests? Will they give false positives?
Experts agree that the possibility of an expired test revealing a false positive is very unlikely.
However, the main message was clear: don’t believe expired tests.
“The validity of the test cannot be assumed.” McCormick said that the stability data doesn’t extend beyond the expiry dates.
This story originally appeared on Fortune.com
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