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{"id":7050,"date":"2022-06-03T11:00:16","date_gmt":"2022-06-03T11:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scienceandnerds.com\/2022\/06\/03\/behind-the-high-tech-covid-19-tests-you-probably-havent-heard-about\/"},"modified":"2022-06-03T11:00:17","modified_gmt":"2022-06-03T11:00:17","slug":"behind-the-high-tech-covid-19-tests-you-probably-havent-heard-about","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scienceandnerds.com\/2022\/06\/03\/behind-the-high-tech-covid-19-tests-you-probably-havent-heard-about\/","title":{"rendered":"Behind the high-tech COVID-19 tests you probably haven\u2019t heard about"},"content":{"rendered":"

Source: https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2022\/6\/3\/23141813\/molecular-covid-19-test-otc-pcr-fda<\/a>
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When you think about getting tested for COVID-19, you\u2019re most likely picturing two types of tests: the at-home rapid antigen tests you can buy at the drugstore and the PCR test where the results are processed by a lab. What you\u2019re probably less familiar with are at-home molecular tests that you can buy online. <\/p>\n

In a nutshell, these at-home molecular tests combine the accuracy of PCR tests with the convenience of antigen tests. It\u2019s a potent combination, as it reduces the chances of a self-test delivering a false negative result. That, in turn, can help people plan with a greater degree of certainty. It\u2019s a big reason why companies like Google<\/a> provide these tests to their workers as part of return to office plans. Currently, the FDA has authorized three OTC at-home molecular tests<\/a>: Cue Health, Detect, and Lucira Health. However, when I polled friends, family, and co-workers, none were aware that this was an option \u2014 and some weren\u2019t sure about the difference between molecular and antigen tests to begin with. If these tests are so convenient and accurate, why isn\u2019t everyone using them? How come more people haven\u2019t heard about them?<\/p>\n

Hint: they\u2019re expensive. The Cue Health tests that Google gives its workers require you to buy a separate hub. That device, plus a three-pack of tests, costs $444. That number doesn\u2019t even include extra fees to verify your results for travel. And yet, Cue, Detect, and Lucira all claim their tests are accessible for the average person. We tried all three to find out how well these tests worked, what their limitations are, and what scenarios these pricey tests might be worth shelling out for. <\/p>\n

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The Cue reader costs $249, while individual tests cost $65.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

What are the different types of COVID-19 tests?<\/h2>\n

There are two types of COVID-19 tests: antigen tests and molecular tests. <\/p>\n

Antigen tests are probably the ones you\u2019re most familiar with. They look for proteins on the surface of the virus and can deliver results in as little as 15 minutes. While you can get an antigen test from a healthcare provider, you can also buy an at-home kit from your local pharmacy. Some familiar brands include the Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Self Test<\/a>, iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test<\/a>, and QuickVue At-Home OTC COVID-19 Test<\/a>. These tests are affordable and convenient but aren\u2019t as accurate as a molecular test. That\u2019s because if you\u2019re early on in an infection, you may get a false negative as you don\u2019t have enough of the virus in your system yet. <\/p>\n

Molecular tests use a different method to detect a virus. Instead of looking for proteins, they search for snippets of the virus\u2019s genetic material and make copies of those snippets until there are enough for a test to detect. They\u2019re also known as nucleic acid amplification tests<\/a> (NAATs). They can catch much lower levels of a virus than antigen tests. That also means they can sometimes tell if you\u2019re infected before there\u2019s enough virus in your nose to get picked up by an antigen test.<\/p>\n

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