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Monday, August 31, 2020 2:02:48 AM
$19 million spent on ‘meaningless’ Australian coronavirus antibody tests
"THE TESTS - expert comments on different types of test for COVID-19
"‘We’re Flying Blind’: Why Testing for Coronavirus Antibodies Will Matter""
Kelly Burke 7NEWS
Published: 13/05/2020
Updated: 13 May 2020 8:44 pm
File image of a COVID testing sign. Credit: Newsday via Getty Images
Australia has spent almost $19 million so far on imported testing kits to identify COVID-19 antibodies that the government has conceded are of “limited use”.
A new study has delivered its findings to the government, warning that the antibody testing technology currently on offer for the virus is not “ready for widespread deployment”.
“For as long as the prevalence of COVID-19 is low in Australia and available serological tests (those relying on detecting Immunoglobulin M, the virus’ antibodies) are not approaching 100 per cent specificity, serological testing to measure the prevalence of COVID-19 will not be meaningful,” the Australian National University study concluded .. https://www.science.org.au/sites/default/files/rrif-q005-covid19-serological-testing-30-april-2020.pdf .
In short, the kits were delivering such an unacceptably high rate of false positives that their inaccuracy makes them virtually useless.
The one million kits were purchased from 29 pharmaceutical companies and laboratories from around the world - 25 of which are in China, one in South Korea and one in the US.
More - https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/19-million-spent-on-meaningless-australian-coronavirus-antibody-tests-c-1035057
"THE TESTS - expert comments on different types of test for COVID-19
"‘We’re Flying Blind’: Why Testing for Coronavirus Antibodies Will Matter""
Kelly Burke 7NEWS
Published: 13/05/2020
Updated: 13 May 2020 8:44 pm
File image of a COVID testing sign. Credit: Newsday via Getty Images
Australia has spent almost $19 million so far on imported testing kits to identify COVID-19 antibodies that the government has conceded are of “limited use”.
A new study has delivered its findings to the government, warning that the antibody testing technology currently on offer for the virus is not “ready for widespread deployment”.
“For as long as the prevalence of COVID-19 is low in Australia and available serological tests (those relying on detecting Immunoglobulin M, the virus’ antibodies) are not approaching 100 per cent specificity, serological testing to measure the prevalence of COVID-19 will not be meaningful,” the Australian National University study concluded .. https://www.science.org.au/sites/default/files/rrif-q005-covid19-serological-testing-30-april-2020.pdf .
In short, the kits were delivering such an unacceptably high rate of false positives that their inaccuracy makes them virtually useless.
The one million kits were purchased from 29 pharmaceutical companies and laboratories from around the world - 25 of which are in China, one in South Korea and one in the US.
More - https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/19-million-spent-on-meaningless-australian-coronavirus-antibody-tests-c-1035057
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