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| -Signs, Portents, and the Weather- |
| Fears of ‘Wild West' as COVID-19 blood tests hit the market |
| 2020-04-12 |
| WASHINGTON (AP) — Blood tests for the coronavirus could play a key role in deciding whether millions of Americans can safely return to work and school. But public health officials warn that the current "Wild West" of unregulated tests is creating confusion that could ultimately slow the path to recovery. More than 70 companies have signed up to sell so-called antibody tests in recent weeks, according to U.S. regulators. Governments around the world hope that the rapid tests, which typically use a finger-prick of blood on a test strip, could soon ease public restrictions by identifying people who have previously had the virus and have developed some immunity to it. But key questions remain: How accurate are the tests, how much protection is needed and how long will that protection last. The blood tests are different from the nasal swab-based tests currently used to diagnose active COVID-19 infections. Instead, the tests look for blood proteins called antibodies, which the body produces days or weeks after fighting an infection. The same approach is used for HIV, hepatitis, Lyme disease, lupus and many other diseases. Because of the relative simplicity of the technology, the Food and Drug Administration decided to waive initial review of the tests as part of its emergency response to the coronavirus outbreak. Right now, the tests are most useful for researchers studying how the virus has spread through the U.S. population. The government said Friday it has started testing 10,000 volunteers. The White House has not outlined a broader plan for testing and how the results might be used. With almost no FDA oversight of the tests, "It really has created a mess that’s going to take a while to clean up," said Eric Blank of the Association for Public Health Laboratories. "In the meantime, you’ve got a lot of companies marketing a lot of stuff and nobody has any idea of how good it is." Members of Blank’s group, which represent state and local lab officials, have urged the FDA to revisit its lax approach toward the tests. That approach essentially allows companies to launch as long as they notify the agency and include disclaimers. Companies are supposed to state that their tests have not been FDA-approved and cannot rule out whether someone is currently infected. |
| Posted by:Besoeker |
| #4 "Eric Blank of the Association for Public Health Laboratories" Can you say "rent seeker"? |
| Posted by: Nero 2020-04-12 22:58 |
| #3 Ahhh so that's where the nonfunctional made in China test kits went! |
| Posted by: Seeking Cure For Ignorance 2020-04-12 22:16 |
| #2 Protection from Bill Gates, W.H.O., and Tony Fauci, hopefully. |
| Posted by: Clem 2020-04-12 12:32 |
| #1 How accurate are the tests, how much protection is needed Protection from what? This sounds like another bait and switch argument, who does it help? |
| Posted by: AlanC 2020-04-12 12:22 |