The New Crown Nucleic Acid Rapid Test is also facing a huge increase in pressure. As the rapid nucleic acid test is a precise experiment, the operation of the experimental steps are also relatively more, requiring a longer experimental time, the time to produce results also relatively increased, in order to solve this dilemma, the new crown antigen test has gradually come into our view.

The National Health Commission released on March 11, the State Council to respond to the new crown virus epidemic joint prevention and control mechanism integrated group decided to add antigen testing as a complementary program based on the new crown nucleic acid rapid test, clearly put forward the community residents have the need for self-testing can be through the retail pharmacy network sales platform and other channels into their own purchase of antigen testing reagents.

So what is the difference between the antigen test and the new crown nucleic acid rapid test?

Why antigen testing can be an effective supplement to the New Crown Nucleic Acid Rapid Test?

There is a fundamental difference between the antigen test, which detects the main structural proteins of the virus, and the Nucleic Acid Rapid Test, which detects the virus itself with the genetic material DNA/RNA. Most of the currently approved antigen detection products use the N protein of the new coronavirus as the target of antigen detection.

In addition to the difference in detection substances, there is also a major difference in the detection time between the antigen test and the nucleic acid rapid test. Generally speaking antigen testing in can be performed in different locations and at different points in time, the requirements for the detection of the link are low, so that the general antigen test in about 20 minutes, the results can be issued. However, the new crown nucleic acid rapid test requires the use of more sophisticated instruments, more sophisticated experiments, the time spent will be relatively longer. Currently in the market will use a method that tends to POCT (i.e., just-in-time testing, new crown nucleic acid rapid test) to carry out the experimental site from the laboratory to the specific scene, shortening the testing time, but still need several hours to carry out.

So since the time for antigen testing has been shortened relative to the New Coronary Nucleic Acid Rapid Test, why can antigen testing still not replace the New Coronary Nucleic Acid Rapid Test, but rather serve as a powerful complement to the New Coronary Nucleic Acid Rapid Test?

This brings us to the limitations of the methodologies and principles of antigen testing. The sensitivity of the antigen test is usually lower than that of the NIC rapid test in detecting early infections and is also lower than that of the NIC rapid test, and the test is prone to false negative results. Usually, after infection with a new coronavirus, antigen detection products can only be detected when the viral load in the infected person reaches a high level during the acute infection period.