We need to implement cheap, rapid, paper-based Covid testing before schools start.
The technology is there, but approvals and implementation needs to be moved into high gear so it can be ready in time.
This would essentially solve the return to school problem
The technology is there, but approvals and implementation needs to be moved into high gear so it can be ready in time.
This would essentially solve the return to school problem
Current testing uses RT-PCR, which will pick up the tiniest levels of virus, are expensive, slow and may be too sensitive - they will pick up cases where you are not transmitting virus yet, or long after you’ve recovered and aren’t infectious.
Rapid tests are quick and dirty, they will accurately pick up if you are infectious, and have high viral loads in your body, they take 10 minutes instead of 2-9 days for PCR, and are cheap, $1-$5 vs $150 for PCR. You could screen every student at every school every day.
This is well explained by Dr. @michaelmina_lab
in his op-ed in the NYTimes. Companies like @E25Bio @Sherlock_Bio @mammothbiosci already have these tests ready and in production
nytimes.com/2020/07/03/opi…
in his op-ed in the NYTimes. Companies like @E25Bio @Sherlock_Bio @mammothbiosci already have these tests ready and in production
nytimes.com/2020/07/03/opi…
It is also covered by this excellent episode of This Week in Virology
microbe.tv/twiv/twiv-640/
and this video from MedCram .
microbe.tv/twiv/twiv-640/
and this video from MedCram .
There’s other approaches, like LAMP testing, which looks for a colour change after 7 minutes. Cheap and easy to implement.
We have limited time, and sadly no sign that this solution is even being considered in our back-to-school debate.
We have limited time, and sadly no sign that this solution is even being considered in our back-to-school debate.
