The PCR tests identified an additional 14 students who were positive for COVID-19 they were moved to isolation.īut the MSU study showed something else that is troubling - false positive results.įive of the 18 students who tested positive on the antigen tested were negative on the PCR test. I should point out that the antigen test was given to all the 1,666 students, not just those showing symptoms.īased on the BinaxNOW test, 18 students tested positive and were moved to isolation. There were 1,666 students returning to residence halls given the rapid antigen test and the more accurate - but slower - PCR test. MSU required that all students returning to residence halls in January be tested for COVID-19. The paper was written by David Hall, MSU director of safety (and former Springfield fire chief), and Karen McKinnis, MSU manager of emergency preparedness. More: Pokin Around: It turned out well in the end reporters allowed into the room with Parson Jim Blaine was kind enough to point it out to me. The results were published in the March/April edition of the Journal of the Greene County Medical Society. What I've said thus far was confirmed in a study at Missouri State University. It makes sense to take the antigen test while waiting for the results of a PCR test. It lets you quickly take steps to not spread it. The antigen test has great value in finding out quickly if you have the virus. It's cheaper, faster and can be self-administered. The less accurate is the antigen test, such as BinaxNOW, which looks for molecules on the surface of the virus. The most accurate is the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, which looks for genetic material from the virus. The PCR test requires expensive and specialized equipment and can take days for the result. If you have symptoms, the test is accurate in telling you if they are the result of COVID-19.

It's helpful to review COVID-19 symptoms: fever, chills, cough, fatigue, body ache, head ache, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting and diarrhea.

More: Pokin Around: Branson shoppers condemn Nike's decision to feature Kaepernick in adĪs a result, that person could have a false sense of security and unknowingly spread the disease to others, perhaps someone whose immune system is compromised. Someone without symptoms could read the box, buy the rapid test and take it - perhaps because they spent time in a confined space with someone with COVID-19 - and easily get a negative result when, actually, they are infected. My point is that this test was specifically approved for those who have COVID-19 symptoms but when you look at the box it does not say that. In fact, the false negative rate can be as high as 50 percent if you don't have symptoms - meaning there's as much as a 50-50 chance you are actually infected when the test says you're not.

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