New Zealand researchers have found that the rapid antigen tests (RAT) for Covid-19 detection could potentially miss up to 44.3% of infections, Newshub reported. The scientists compared results obtained from five RATs and three Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAATs) with those with standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. The study also found that rapid NAATS were more sensitive compared to RATs. Earlier, the government decided to repeal a ban on point-of-care RATs, thereby aiding companies to procure RATS for testing their employees from next month.
NMC Healthcare has opened a drive-through Covid-19 testing centre at Oxford Medical Centre in Abu Dhabi of the UAE to offer reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests seven days a week, Khaleej Times reported. The facility was inaugurated by NMC Healthcare CEO Michael Davis and president of operations Clancey Po. NMC currently has such facilities at NMC Speciality Hospital on Electra Street, NMC Royal Medical Centres at Karama and Shahama Bareen International Hospital in Mohamed Bin Zayed City and NMC Royal Hospital Khalifa City.
Gravity Diagnostics, a lab in Northern Kentucky, US, has processed over three million Covid-19 tests for the Tri-State so far, and anticipates the demand to increase in the holiday season. The lab can process over 1,000 tests in a couple of hours. Ohio Department of Health Director Dr Bruce Vanderhoff advised people to test themselves following holiday gatherings, especially those who are yet to receive the Covid-19 booster vaccine.
