In a Canadian first, Nova Scotia researchers say rapid COVID-19 tests that include both throat and nose swabs provide greater accuracy in detecting the virus.
Until now, the instructions provided by the manufacturer were only for the nasal swab.
Now, based on research conducted by Nova Scotia Health’s microbiology team, Public Health recommends that Nova Scotians use rapid tests to swab their throat and nose when collecting their sample.
In a statement Friday, Nova Scotia Health said it was working to update the current testing instructions people receive when taking a rapid test.
The research was prompted by a public discussion that a combined sample may produce more accurate results.
Speaking to CTV on Thursday, Dr. Todd Hatchette, chief of the province’s microbiology division, department of pathology and laboratory medicine, said researchers found that using a single swab on the throat of a person first, then in both nostrils is more effective at detecting Omicron than doing either site alone.
“When we tested just over 1,500 people, we found that the nose or throat both detected around 60% of people, but if you did a nose/throat combo it detected over 82% of people. said Hatchette.
The search started about a week ago. Microbiology lab officials worked with volunteers at the Halifax Convention Center test site to collect the data.
In Friday’s release, Nova Scotia Health says working with volunteer-based community rapid testing sites has been key to the project’s success and has allowed the project to quickly answer a question that many jurisdictions across the countries have asked.
The survey compared the results of a common rapid home test using three sampling sites: nasal swab; throat swab and; nasal/throat combo, according to the release. All results were confirmed by PCR tests. Compared to PCR test results, nasal or throat swab samples each detected 64.5% of cases; however, the combination of nose and throat swabs increased sensitivity to 88.7%.
This research project has been submitted for publication.
Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, speaking Friday from Ottawa, praised the Nova Scotia swab study.
“I’ve asked our network of labs, our lab experts, to take that into account and see if we can provide some sort of guidance,” Tam said. “But, of course, I think we’ve found that the Omicron variant may behave a bit differently than previous variants, so this approach, this levy, might be helpful.”
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