Lisa Barrett is an infectious diseases expert from Dalhousie University. She’s administered a lot of COVID-19 rapid antigen tests.
Earlier this month, experts said Canada is “grossly underutilizing” the tests as the Omicron variant spreads and case counts rise.
In Nova Scotia, you can get free rapid tests at health centres, pop-up testing sites or libraries. It's a system that has “normalized” the idea of getting a test in the province, according to Barrett.
Other provinces like New Brunswick and Saskatchewan are also making the tests freely available. This week, Ontario started offering free rapid antigen tests at pop-up sites, including malls and libraries, as well as some liquor stores.
For people considering using the tests over the holidays, Barrett stresses that rapid tests are great for screening but aren’t a substitute for vaccination and other COVID safety protocols like distancing and masking.
In this example, Barrett uses an Abbott Panbido at-home rapid test, but there are other similar tests available.
She stresses there are a couple of points where people make mistakes. It’s important to lay the test cassette on a flat surface and use the appropriate number of drops for the test. This particular test has five dots for drops of fluid, and that is the exact number to use.
The other mistake is not swabbing long enough. It’s important to follow the recommendations on the package. Remember to do five full swirls along the inside edges of both nostrils and make sure to keep the swab at the right depth.
If you do test positive, Barrett says it’s time to get a PCR test to confirm the result. You should isolate while you wait for those PCR results to come back. If your rapid test does not show either one line (negative) or two (positive), consider the test invalid.
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Earlier this month, experts said Canada is “grossly underutilizing” the tests as the Omicron variant spreads and case counts rise.
In Nova Scotia, you can get free rapid tests at health centres, pop-up testing sites or libraries. It's a system that has “normalized” the idea of getting a test in the province, according to Barrett.
Other provinces like New Brunswick and Saskatchewan are also making the tests freely available. This week, Ontario started offering free rapid antigen tests at pop-up sites, including malls and libraries, as well as some liquor stores.
For people considering using the tests over the holidays, Barrett stresses that rapid tests are great for screening but aren’t a substitute for vaccination and other COVID safety protocols like distancing and masking.
In this example, Barrett uses an Abbott Panbido at-home rapid test, but there are other similar tests available.
She stresses there are a couple of points where people make mistakes. It’s important to lay the test cassette on a flat surface and use the appropriate number of drops for the test. This particular test has five dots for drops of fluid, and that is the exact number to use.
The other mistake is not swabbing long enough. It’s important to follow the recommendations on the package. Remember to do five full swirls along the inside edges of both nostrils and make sure to keep the swab at the right depth.
If you do test positive, Barrett says it’s time to get a PCR test to confirm the result. You should isolate while you wait for those PCR results to come back. If your rapid test does not show either one line (negative) or two (positive), consider the test invalid.
#cbc #cbcnews #covid #covid19 #coronavirus #pandemic #rapidtest #test #doctor #health #healthtips #howto #test
»»» Subscribe to CBC News to watch more videos: http://bit.ly/1RreYWS
Connect with CBC News Online:
For breaking news, video, audio and in-depth coverage: http://bit.ly/1Z0m6iX
Find CBC News on Facebook: http://bit.ly/1WjG36m
Follow CBC News on Twitter: http://bit.ly/1sA5P9H
For breaking news on Twitter: http://bit.ly/1WjDyks
Follow CBC News on Instagram: http://bit.ly/1Z0iE7O
Subscribe to CBC News on Snapchat: https://bit.ly/3leaWsr
Download the CBC News app for iOS: http://apple.co/25mpsUz
Download the CBC News app for Android: http://bit.ly/1XxuozZ
»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»
For more than 75 years, CBC News has been the source Canadians turn to, to keep them informed about their communities, their country and their world. Through regional and national programming on multiple platforms, including CBC Television, CBC News Network, CBC Radio, CBCNews.ca, mobile and on-demand, CBC News and its internationally recognized team of award-winning journalists deliver the breaking stories, the issues, the analyses and the personalities that matter to Canadians.
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