by: gordon hoekstra
simon fraser university researchers announced friday they have validated a faster, cheaper covid-19 test that could help kickstart the expansion of wider rapid testing.
“this research offers a cheaper, faster alternative to the most reliable and sensitive test currently used worldwide without sacrificing sensitivity and reproducibility,” said peter unrau, a sfu molecular biology and biochemistry professor who led the team evaluating the covid-19 testing kit.
the results of the sfu study of the testing kit produced by mission-based lumex instruments
in the journal of molecular diagnostics.
currently, there are two basic types of covid-19 tests.
the pcr (polymerase chain reaction) test uses a swab to collect cells from deep within the nasal cavity and tests for genetic material from the virus.
it is considered the most accurate and reliable test for covid-19, but requires trained personnel, a lab and takes more time and resources than rapid testing. in british columbia, health officials try to have results in 24 hours but it can take longer.
rapid testing, which also uses swab samples, screens for viral antigens which trigger an immune response in the body. they are quicker, can be portable and much cheaper but are less accurate than pcr tests.