The coronavirus is constantly changing. This has been known for a long time. That is why vaccines are regularly adjusted. Shouldn't this also be the case with home rapid tests? No, because there are other parts of the virus at play.
FOCUS online clarifies the most important questions about rapid tests:
Do old coronavirus tests detect the new variant?
Yes, the old rapid tests also recognize the new variant. This is because the changes mainly occur in the spike protein, explains Ulf Dittmer, director of the Institute of Virology at the University Hospital Essen. The nucleoprotein detected by the rapid test is almost unchanged. His conclusion: “That is why almost all tests still work with the new variant.”
When should you stop using an old test?
However, there are still two things to note: That Liquid dries up There are actually problems with some rapid tests. “They can no longer be used,” the virologist said.
The same goes for Expiry date test. You should no longer use this to detect current corona infections.
When is the best time to do a rapid test?
One thing that has also changed is when the rapid coronavirus test works. “It often takes one to three days after the first symptoms appear for the rapid test to come back positive,” Dittmer said. “That’s because we have antibodies to the nucleoprotein from previous infections. It picks up on the protein initially, so the test doesn’t come back positive until later.”
According to Timo Ulrichs, a virologist and microbiologist and infectious disease epidemiologist, this is the most important information. Because, it is the opposite of the experience during the pandemic.
Anyone who suspects they have coronavirus should get tested on several days in a row. It is possible to test negative when symptoms first appear – and then test positive only on the third or fourth day after getting sick.
Which variants are currently circulating and driving the fall surge?
At the moment The following variants are circulating in Germanywhich are considered variants of interest (VOI) according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification:
Under observation (VUM, variant under monitoring):
- JN.1.7
- KP.2
- KP.3
- KP.3.1.1
- John 1:18
- LB.1
When does a combination corona, flu, and RSV test from a pharmacy make more sense than a rapid corona test?
According to Ulrichs, combination tests are recommended. Unlike the corona pandemic, this fall-winter we will be facing a variety of different pathogens, all of which will be widespread.
“The consequences after a positive test result are the same: isolation and treatment,” the expert said. But it is important for certain age and risk groups to know what the pathogen is.