Rapid COVID-19 tests: When to take one, and what to do if it’s positive
Global News
COVID-19 rapid antigen tests are flooding the market, and are finding their way into more Canadians' hands. But when should you use them? Here's some guidance.
The holidays are fast approaching, and many Canadians are trying to get their hands on COVID-19 rapid antigen tests for added protection this season.
Governments and health officials have been urging the use of rapid tests as the Omicron variant spreads, threatening to worsen Canada’s COVID-19 pandemic over the winter.
But with more rapid tests flooding the market now, questions have swirled around their use: When should rapid tests be used, and what happens if someone tests positive?
Here’s what you should know.
Rapid antigen tests come with a nasal swab that a person can use to test themselves for COVID-19.
The tests are not as thorough compared to lab-based molecular testing, like the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, but they produce results faster.
To date, Canada’s rapid testing strategy has generally focused on long-term care homes, schools and workplaces. Some provinces have limited the general public and people who are asymptomatic from accessing the tests.
But as the Omicron variant takes hold and governments, in turn, expand the use of rapid tests, more Canadians should consider getting these tools, said Jason Kindrachuk, assistant professor of medical microbiology and infectious diseases at the University of Manitoba.