Thread by @cdenki

Viral kinetics in a controlled human experiment with WT Sars Cov2
Insights:
- incubation period short: approx 2days
- virus first detectable in the throat
- 18hrs later in the nose
- viral load rose higher in the nose
- symptoms apparent after 2-4 days

researchsquare.com/article/rs-112…

- viable virus for approx 6.5days
- but PCR positive in 33% at day 28 still

What does this tell us about rapid tests?

In summary:
- tests should be performed in the nose because they were optimized for the nose (most tests)
- an additional throat swab might detect the infection earlier
- but saliva can affect the test negatively

- thus they might perform less good if done in the mouth
- if one wants to increase possibility of detection early, and cost is not the issue, best would be to do nose swab and test, and separately throat swab and test
- and test at least on 2 consecutive days after symptom onset

- better three days
- Good rapid tests capture 90%of infections in the first week
- after this there is no more viable virus, i.e no more transmission

Caveat: this is wild type virus and not omicron. And these are non vaccinated people...

@RapidtestsDE
@NiraPollock

@EckerleIsabella
#rapidtests