Push underway for more people to use rapid COVID-19 tests

With labs backed up, there’s a new push to use rapid tests to detect COVID-19 even if it means using less sensitive tests.

When it comes to getting tested for the coronavirus in Cape Coral, “there isn’t any wait,” said Mathew Marshall, battalion chief of special operations for the City of Cape Coral.

“It takes about 30 seconds to get the test done. They’re in, they get swabbed, and then they continue on.”

While you can speed through the testing process, Marshall said getting your results is a different story.

“The results come depending on where your insurance wants them sent,” he said.

It could take anywhere between three to 14 days, but Dr. Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, said we need results faster, and that can be done by using rapid antigen tests.

“We need to shift our thinking on testing to move towards rapid tests even if they are quote-unquote less sensitive,” Jha said. “Even at 70 to 80% sensitivity, which a lot of these antigen tests have, you drive the infection way, way down.”

Jha said rapid antigen tests will catch people who are infectious because of the large amounts of virus in their systems.

“If you want to identify whether they’re infectious or not, and going to go out and spread it to other people, these tests are actually quite good,” he said. “They are not so sensitive when you have very mild, low amounts of virus and you’re not doing much spreading.”

To really make the system work, Jha said we have to test quickly – and often.

“If you tell somebody with a negative test – you’re not infectious today, but you could be infectious tomorrow. Still need to wear a mask, you still need to do social distancing, and we’re going to retest you in three days. If we have that strategy for high-risk people, we really can make a big difference.”

It’s a system Gov. Ron DeSantis is already embracing at two sites on the East Coast, but until rapid tests become more common in Southwest Florida, “if you’re suspected of having any type of COVID-19 illness, you should stay home anyway. You should quarantine and wear a mask,” Marshall said.

You do need an appointment and a doctor’s note to get tested at the site in Cape Coral. They’re open six days a week and can test 12 to 15 people every 15 minutes. It’s located at 4816 Chester St.