DEVELOPING Latest updates on the major wildfires currently burning in Canada
Thousands of Canadians have been displaced as fires burn in Alberta, B.C. and Manitoba. Here are the latest updates.
A new study has found that rapid antigen tests, which can be self-administered at home to monitor for COVID-19 infection, may not be keeping pace with emerging variants of concern that differ from the original strain of SARS-CoV-2.
The study, conducted by scientists out of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre (BIDMC), found that some rapid antigen tests may not be as effective at detecting different COVID-19 variants.
While rapid antigen tests remain a useful tool in detecting COVID-19 infections, the study's findings suggest these tests will likely need "continuous assessment" and updating when taking into account virus variants.
The findings were published Thursday, in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology.
The main issue with rapid tests, scientists say, is they were developed with the original SARS-CoV-2 viral strain that emerged late in 2019. Since then, the virus has evolved numerous times and several viral variants of concern have emerged.
"Unlike the sensitive molecular tests that detect multiple SARS-CoV-2 genes, rapid antigen tests target a single viral protein," said co-corresponding study author and BIDMC clinical director James Kirby in a press release. "As the pandemic continues, however, some hypothesize that the performance of available antigen test may vary among the COVID variants of concern."
Using strains of live virus culture, the study's authors assessed how well four commercially availably rapid antigen tests were able to detect two COVID variants of concern -- the highly infectious Delta and Omicron variants.
According to the study, the team looked at the differences in the limits of detection, which is the smallest amount of viral antigen detectable at 95 per cent certainty, of the the Binax, CareStart, GenBody and LumiraDx rapid tests.
Researchers found that all four tests were sensitive to the Omicron variant, "if not more" so than to the original SARS-CoV-2 strain. However, three of the four tests showed less sensitivity to the Delta variant, with only the CareStart test showing "equal detection" of Omicron, Delta and the original virus.
Given the differences in the tests' limits of detection, Kirby, who is also a professor at Harvard Medical School, says this could have resulted in cases being missed amid the last two waves of the pandemic.
"We expect that the observed loss in Delta sensitivity could have resulted in a 20 per cent or more loss of detection in potentially infectious individuals – nevertheless, the most infectious individuals still should have been detected," Kirby said in the release.
"However, our findings suggest that antigen test performance needs to be re-evaluated for emerging variants to ensure they still meet the intended public health testing goals of the pandemic," he added.
Given the unknown sensitivity of rapid tests in relation to COVID-19 variants, experts have previously advised Canadians take two rapid tests to confirm whether or not they are infected.
Thousands of Canadians have been displaced as fires burn in Alberta, B.C. and Manitoba. Here are the latest updates.
Slovak politicians have called for calm in the Central European country after Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot multiple times by a would-be assassin on Wednesday, a rare instance of political violence that came as a shock despite deep political polarization.
Auto technology has evolved and many newer cars use wireless key fobs and push-button starters instead of traditional metal keys. But that technology also makes things easier for thieves.
Canada's transportation department had a UFO 'lead' who tried to 'quell' media interest and planned to meet with U.S. intelligence officials.
Regaining your focus requires you to be mindful of how you are using technology -- a daunting task if you consider the average American spends at least 10 hours a day on screens.
May 20 is Victoria Day. If you're going across the border this long weekend, follow these tips for a smoother trip.
Chief Robert Michell says relief isn't the right word to describe his reaction as the search begins for unmarked graves at the site of a former residential school he attended in northern British Columbia.
Of the $40-million Aiden Pleterski was handed over two years, documents show he invested just over one per cent and instead spent $15.9 million on "his personal lifestyle." The 25-year-old Oshawa, Ont. man was arrested and charged with fraud and money laundering on Tuesday.
A man from B.C.'s Lower Mainland has been sentenced to four years behind bars after shooting a sex worker in the back during a drug-fuelled 43rd birthday.
When Adam Kirschner wrote 'Slap Shot,' he never imagined the song would be embraced by his favourite team.
A team is ready to help an entangled North Atlantic right whale in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
A $200 reward is being offered by a North Vancouver family for the safe return of their beloved chicken, Snowflake.
Two daughters and a mother were reunited online 40 years later thanks to a DNA kit and a Zoom connection despite living on three separate continents and speaking different languages.
Mother's Day can be a difficult occasion for those who have lost or are estranged from their mom.
YES Theatre Young Company opened its acclaimed kids’ show, One Small Step, at Sudbury Theatre Centre on Saturday.
An Ottawa pizzeria is being recognized as one of the top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world.
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
A Listowel, Ont. man, drafted by the Hamilton Tigercats last week, is also getting looks from the NFL, despite only playing 27 games of football in his life.