Texas extinguishes COVID case and fan conspiracy theory

FDA approved First COVID-19 antigen test in May. Looking at the pictures of COVID-19, a white ball usually has many red spikes. Molecular (PCR) tests look for viral genetic material in white balls. Antigen tests look for proteins that make up the red spike.

“Each category of diagnostic tests has its own role in fighting this virus,” according to the FDA. “The PCR test is very accurate, but running the test and analyzing the results can be time-consuming. One of the main advantages of antigen testing is the speed of the test, which can get results in minutes. I can do it.”

Some have jumped to the conclusion that the state’s withdrawal is the record high number of cases in the state, and is evidence of threatening the entire virus, but it does suggest the opposite. In states that are already struggling to keep up with the increasing demand for testing and hospitalization, Texas is underrated risk —And undermine trust—By not recognizing a positive antigen test result, experts said..

Dr Sarabezek, assistant professor of emergency medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, said the state’s most transparent way of reporting cases was to include data from each type of coronavirus test.

“These are the positive numbers from the PCR test, these are the positive numbers from the antigen test, and these are the positive numbers from the serological study (antibody test),” Bezek, who is working on, said The frontline of the Houston area emergency department. “That would be complete transparency of the data.”

Positive antigen test results are reliable, Bezek Insisted.. The two FDA-approved COVID-19 antigen tests are very specific. That is, you can distinguish COVID-19 from other respiratory viruses.

Legitimate knock-on aAntigen test They are It is less sensitive than the PCR test and returns more false negatives. But Bezek Pointed it out Even PCR tests are not 100% accurate, further Hindering The ability of local health authorities to make accurate contact traces.

Depending on how and when the PCR test is performed, Also May return false negatives.

“We have patients who have a negative test after a negative test,” Bezek said. “After looking closely at patients with coronavirus, when you see someone doing a negative test, you can say, “Well, I’m sure this is a coronavirus,” a specific constellation of symptoms. there is.”

In those cases she added, Not counted by state.

On Thursday, anger over the removal of the incident spread like wildfire online. But many of the answers Man I am concerned about the decline in disease surveillance. Instead, they Conspiracy theorists suggesting abduction have somehow shown that the crisis is exaggerated.

“It was all a lie,” said one Twitter user. “They blocked us and lied and destroyed the economy.”

Texas Sent Cruz Get into the action, Share misleading tweets The 3,484 people who had their cases removed have never been tested, suggesting that the San Antonio Health Department has made a mistake. Cruz added the comment “trouble.”

Local health officials were resolute that it was not.

“The possible cases do not mean the “maybe” case for COVID-19,” said Colleen Bridger, interim director of San Antonio Metro Health. “The antigen test is FDA approved and the positive test is very accurate.”

Dr. Sea Mayasmin, director of the Stanford Health Communication Initiative, said extinguishing the case, like Texas, was the “worst thing” they could do in a situation of growing distrust.

“The last thing you need to do during a spike is for people to suddenly think the numbers are inaccurate, and in reality things are not as tragic and critical as they really are,” Yasmin said. Told.

Texas reported 10,256 new cases Friday, setting daily records of hospitalizations (10,632) and deaths (174).

by COVID tracking project Atlantic, Many states report confirmed and possible cases in the state totals. The CDC did not respond to requests for comment on whether it had planned to issue updated guidance on positive antigen test counts as confirmed rather than probable.

Since the antigen test returns false negatives more than the molecular test (PCR) test, by separating the data of the molecular test and the antigen test, researchers can obtain the most accurate positive rate (frequency at which the test returns to positive). You will be able to judge.

Joseph Petrosino, president of the Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine, believes that datasets need to be segregated for epidemiological studies.

“I want to compare apples to apples,” says Petrosino. “SARS-CoV-2 tracking started with the counting of positive PCR tests. When additional test methods with varying levels of sensitivity were added, tracking work and where and/or where the virus spread most quickly It can interfere with epidemiological investigations such as high risk of.”

Yasmin agrees behind the scenes, it makes sense to keep the two datasets separate. But when it comes to informing the public about the infection, the total number of positives diagnosed by molecular and antigen tests should be reported, She insisted.

“We decide whether our lives and children will go back to school or go to the grocery store based on community communication,” Yasmin said. “We need data transparency. When it comes to antigen testing, it’s a good indicator of who is the case.”