Are COVID Rapid Tests WORTHLESS?
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted May 4, 2023
Boy, how times have changed. These days when you start feeling a little under the weather, one of your first thoughts is likely, “I’ll take a COVID test, just to be sure.”
But by now, you may have heard the buzz among family, friends, or online that at-home COVID tests may no longer be entirely accurate. Or worse, that they’re WORTHLESS.
But is it true?
Three years after the COVID-19 pandemic started is an excellent time to reevaluate if the tools we’ve been using to curb its spread, like rapid COVID tests, are still working.
So I applaud you for thinking about it.
The virus’s ability to infect healthy cells relies on a spike protein. The CHANGES that occur in this protein are what spur new variants – they’re then given their own names, such as Omicron, Delta, and Alpha.
But the spike protein ISN’T what the quick antigen tests are designed to detect. These at-home COVID tests are looking for something called a nucleocapsid protein. It’s the protein that surrounds the viral RNA.
Throughout all the virus’s changes, this inner protein HASN’T changed much. So the good news is the COVID tests you’re using at home ARE still a good way to detect the virus.
They’ve never been 100 percent accurate (few tests are). But there’s currently no evidence that there are more false negatives now than when we first started using them.
Just make sure…
- the test has NOT expired
- you follow ALL of the directions
- you get ENOUGH of a sample (using the swab correctly)
- to test several times over several days
As life slowly returns to our new version of normal, at-home COVID tests will continue to be a valuable tool to help us stop the spread of this virus.
P.S. Researchers say losing your ability to DO THIS is a red flag for the brain inflammation associated with post-COVID syndrome. Don’t miss this warning sign. CLICK HERE for all the details.
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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