Laboratories across the country have been operating non-stop ever since the first coronavirus case in the USA, but most operate and struggle under the painful failures made by the regulators. Expanded testing for the coronavirus remains uncertain, and while efforts have been made, it remains to be questionable—is it enough?
As a country deemed as the top hotspot for COVID-19 cases, various states continue to struggle against the exponential rise of new cases. While quarantine routines are on-going, many individuals still fall ill to the virus, mainly due to the lack of proper testing regulations. One of the heavily debated methods of testing is rapid antibody tests, most of which are deemed as inaccurate.
What’s Been Happening
The CDC acknowledges two kinds of tests that detect COVID-19. One is an antibody test that detects whether or not a person has previously contracted an infection, and the other is a viral test that detects the presence of the virus currently inside the body.
The antibody test, as its name suggests, detects the presence of antibodies inside a person’s body. The human body produces antibodies as a response to an infection, as these antibodies play a crucial role in recognizing and controlling the viruses. It takes the body around 1–3 weeks to make antibodies against infection, so an antibody test may not be able to detect a current infection.
There is still much to study when it comes to whether or not having antibodies against COVID-19 can protect a person from contracting the virus again, or how long the protection could last. Healthcare experts also worry about unvalidated antibody tests; because these tests don’t detect if a person currently has the virus, experts are concerned that the tests can provide a false sense of security to those who received negative results.
The Alarming Inaccuracies
Unfortunately, most people press the need to address the issue—high level inaccuracies. Many point out that there is a prevalence of false positives and negatives, which makes data gathering difficult.
False tests also deem individuals a danger to society, especially if they test negative but actually carry the virus. Most workers also fall victim to false positive results, rendering them unable to work and sent to isolation. This only feeds the endless cycle of contact tracing, and most workers are already undermanned.
Looking Beyond
COVID-19 has forced individuals to reconsider things they never thought possible, as well as open conversations about the most pressing questions. Politics and morality continue to be debated, and there is so much to tackle and press about the necessity of masks. Such issues also encompass testing, which is the only tool currently available against the virus. The issues surrounding testing prompts individuals to ask the questions, particularly those that could mean life and death.
COVID-19 testing isn’t our only hope, and there is so much more to learn about the virus. A false positive forces people into unfavorable circumstances, but false negatives are even more dangerous—it allows those with the virus roaming freely, but without proper testing measures and vaccines, the pandemic remains to be a formidable challenge. For now, people must support what science commands—accurate testing and more accurate testing, coupled with masks, and of course, the six-feet rule.
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