The results of antigen testing are not yet included in the total Covid-19 case count for some states, not even as probable cases, as recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Five states (California, Colorado, Maryland, Missouri and Nevada) publicly report only confirmed cases with PCR tests on their online accounts, according to a CNN analysis of the 50-state health department boards.
Some states only report the results of polymerase chain reaction tests in their Covid-19 case numbers and exclude the results of antigen tests, as antigen tests are generally considered less accurate. But as antigen testing increases in the United States, this exclusion can lead to possible miscalculations.
“Antigen testing is relatively inexpensive and most can be used to the point of care. Most currently authorized tests give results in about 15 minutes,” according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but also notes that it is generally less sensitive than other types of testing.
In California, for example, CNN was informed that the results of Covid-19 antigen testing should be communicated to local health departments and the California Department of Public Health. But published Covid-19 test data only reflect the results of diagnostic tests that detect coronavirus genetic material, such as PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests.
CNN requested antigen testing data from the state’s public health department, but was informed in an email that “the results of the antigen testing are not being publicly communicated throughout the state. at this moment”.
In the remaining four states, the data they shared with CNN represents approximately 10,000 positive Covid-19 antigen testing results reported in just a small sample of days in January.
If included in the reported case counts, these positive antigen test results would increase the Covid-19 cases reported by those states by between 5% and 50% in that time, according to CNN analysis.
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