Health Diagnostics
Post categorized under: Health Diagnostics
All too often in the conversation COVID-19 testing, two factors are lost: Pragmatism and Cost. Our Microarray platform can deliver highly effective Pooled Surveillance at a dramatically lower cost than individual testing and we are the proven alternative in Variant Identification—results in a fraction of the time and cost of NGS. The world is coming around to our way of thinking.
- COVID-19 testing plunges dramatically leaving experts struggling to track pandemic
Testing has dropped 70% to 90% worldwide from the first to the second quarter of this year — the opposite of what they say should be happening with new SARS-CoV-2 Clade Variants like Omicron on the rise in places such as the United States and South Africa. As testing plummets, it becomes much tougher for scientists to track the course of the pandemic and spot new, worrisome viral mutants as they emerge and spread.
- FDA: At home SARS-CoV-2 tests can still be used past expiration date
Like food and medications, rapid COVID-19 tests expire—but figuring out when they go bad isn’t easy. With some manufacturers and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) extending the expiration date of COVID-19 tests, some people are sceptical. Since rapid tests are relatively new products, companies are collecting much of that data in real time—meaning their expiration dates can and do change.
- WHO urges countries to keep up SARS-CoV-2 testing and surveillance due to emergence of new Variants
The World Health Organization said Wednesday it’s increasingly concerned at the reduction in COVID-19 testing, surveillance and overall monitoring among its member countries, reminding the public that COVID-19 and emerging variants are still circulating at high levels.
- Much of Shanghai locked down as mass COVID-19 testing begins
China began locking down most of its largest city of Shanghai on Monday as a coronavirus outbreak surges and amid questions about the economic toll of the nation’s “zero-COVID” strategy. Reminiscent of 2020, COVID-19 panic buying was reported on Sunday, with supermarket shelves cleared of food, beverages and household items.
- Boston COVID-19 test positivity rate passes the threshold of concern
The city’s coronavirus test positivity rate currently sits at 6.2%, which is above the agency’s “threshold of concern” of 5%. It’s also nearly three times higher than the 2.2% test positivity rate recorded one month ago. According to CDC data, SARS-CoV-2 variant BA.2 makes up more than 90% of cases that have undergone genome sequencing in New England.
- New Hampshire to Close State-Run COVID-19 Testing Sites Next Week
New Hampshire officials are closing all of the state’s fixed COVID-19 testing sites next week. The state-run locations in Belmont, Claremont, Keene, Lincoln, Manchester, Nashua and Newington will close at 3 p.m. on March 15. In a statement, Gov. Chris Sununu called the move a “significant milestone.”
- Demand for COVID-19 Testing is Falling, but Experts Caution it’s as Important as Ever
Out of the long-awaited 500 million free at-home Covid-19 tests the Biden administration has made available, fewer than 300 million have been ordered. For one, cases are coming down, and demand is simply starting to fade.
- More States Ease Mask Mandates, Citing Lower Infection, Hospitalization Numbers
New York and Massachusetts just announced they will ease mask mandates, joining a long list of states making similar moves in recent days. The governors of both states cited declining infection and hospitalization numbers, along with high vaccination rates as allowing eased restrictions.
- Omicron Found in NYC Deer Raises Questions About COVID Transmission From Animals to Humans
A new study found that 15% of 131 white-tailed deer sampled in the borough of Staten Island tested positive for antibodies. Although there has not yet been any evidence that the virus can spread from animals to humans, the findings raise concerns that deer could become a reservoir of the virus or lead to new mutations.
- U.S. schools delay openings as Omicron rages; New York City hits 33% positivity rate
Thousands of U.S. schools delayed the scheduled return to classrooms following the holiday break or switched to remote learning as the Omicron variant of the coronavirus pushed COVID-19 cases to record levels. Nationwide, the country is averaging near 20% of tests coming back positive.
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