Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, test analyzes have been essential to detect positive cases of contagion; however, with the arrival of the omicron variant, the demand to acquire these tests increased globally.
Whether through testing serological, molecular (PCR) or antigenic, there is still doubt as to which of these tests is the most effective and fastest to detect contagion by omicron. Is a nasal test or the one obtained through a saliva sample more accurate?
Some studies already conclude that the analyzes obtained with a saliva sample would be more effective in detecting infections by the variant omicron, according to El País of Spain. The University of Cape Town, in South Africa, analyzed the antigen tests of 382 patients from coronavirus and the results were surprising.
According to this study, the nasal test that they did to this group of people revealed that 100% of the infections were responsible for the variant delta and the saliva test only recognized 71% of the cases.
However, with omicron It is different. The tests obtained with a saliva sample detected 100% of the cases with this variant and in the nasal mucosa only 86%. One of the first conclusions reached by scientists is that they believe that omicron it reproduces faster in the mouth, which makes the test more effective.
The IQVIA consultancy, specialized in research and analysis of data related to health, concluded in another study that nasal or saliva tests have become mass consumption products in recent months.
In recent months, around 8.5 million tests have been sold, increasing demand by 546% between November and December 2021.
The Spanish media highlighted that in countries of Europe, As the United Kingdom, they have already begun to test the nose and mouth in the same test to locate the virus. In this region, the tests are distributed free of charge in pharmacies, libraries or delivered to students in schools.
In France, antigen tests are sold for 6 euros. In Portugal the maximum price is 2.75 euros and in Germany its price cannot exceed 1.75 euros.
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