by InScience | May 1, 2023 | News
A recent study out of Switzerland examined the risks posed by Influenza A and B and RSV alongside Covid 19 variants which all have significant winter mortality rates to concern us in NZ this winter.
Inscience have just launched a 4 in one rapid nasal pen test to support workplaces in their risk evaluation this winter season.
This new product is a rapid test format and unique to have 4 relevant and predominant respiratory virus detectable and identified on one test.
COVID-19 remains deadlier than influenza in severe cases requiring hospitalization, a new study shows.
People who were hospitalized with Omicron COVID-19 infections were 54% more likely to die, compared to people who were hospitalized with the flu, Swiss researchers found. The results of the study continue to debunk an earlier belief from the start of the pandemic that the flu was the more dangerous of the two respiratory viruses. Researchers noted that the deadliness of COVID-19 compared to flu persisted “despite virus evolution and improved management strategies.”.
Maybe because of this the New Zealand government remains committed to maintaining the requirement for those testing positive for Covid to remain isolated for 7 days after testing positive. This places pressure on business and leaves gaps in workplace ability to get through normal workflow. There are no such requirements for the flu however those that do test positive for Influenza A and B or RSV on the Rapid pentest 4 in 1 should isolate until negative and symptoms abate.
It is important for NZ employers to continue to require employees to test for Covid to determine the length of required sick leave. It will be important through the winter months to maintain this testing.
The study referenced was published this week in JAMA Network Open and included 5,212 patients in Switzerland hospitalized with COVID-19 or the flu. All the COVID patients were infected with the Omicron variant and hospitalized and Flu data included cases of Influenza A and B and RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus).
Overall, 7% of COVID-19 patients died, compared to 4.4% of flu patients.
“Our results demonstrate that COVID-19 still cannot simply be compared with influenza,” they wrote. While the death rate among COVID patients was significantly higher, there was no difference in the rate that COVID or flu patients were admitted to the intensive care unit, which was around 8%.”
Source:
JAMA Network Open: “Hospital Outcomes of Community-Acquired SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant Infection Compared With Influenza Infection in Switzerland.”
by InScience | Jan 9, 2023 | News
“Pandemic transition to Endemic, emerging variants, China surge in infections, vaccination and measures to reduce transmission”
Experts tracking the pandemic agree there is and will continue to be surges and evolving challenges with Covid infections in 2023. NZ is in the midst of a surge now, with a vast majority of infections going unreported and not included in our statistics. The surge may not be providing as bad a situation as previously experienced and having just had my first event with Covid over Christmas, I feel blessed I wasn’t very sick. Those with underlying conditions and those who are unvaccinated, however, are the most at risk – as are businesses that rely on them. Why business? Well absenteeism causes intermittent manpower shortages when Covid runs through the workplace, and those with sensitive export markets are required to test as part of their contracts.
Do we need to worry about subvariants? Well, the good news is that to date the subvariants are showing characteristics of less impact on serious illness and mortality rates, but worryingly they are more transmissible. Nonetheless, NZ has some worrying mortality rates.
Much of the waves of infections are not primarily driven by emergence of subvariants but rather by behaviour. People are opening up their social networks to gather for celebrations and family time providing a source of transmission driving infection rates that are under-reported.
Other experts are pointing out that anticipated future surges don’t just involve Covid and the 2023 winter will see a triple surge. They are referring to the rise of cases of flu and RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) to add to Covid infections. Many share the concern, worrying that those illnesses may be what overwhelms hospital capacity.
Another wildcard is the situation for China with their easing of “zero covid” policies. The suffering that is occurring is not good news and we are going to see that for many weeks and months ahead. Peter Chin-Hong, MD, Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases at the University of California says that the increase in cases and variants in China whilst worrying can “throw a wrench“ in the transition from pandemic to endemic. But even if the rising cases in China do result in a new variant, there is so much T-Cell and B cell immunity here that your average person is still not going to get seriously ill, even if the variant looks really scary.
Recent studies find huge value in boosters which have reduced the risk of hospitalisations by 84% for someone vaccinated.
A vital tool in reducing transmission is rapid testing methods such as Rapid Immunoassay testing (take a look at the Ecotest Nasal Pentest RAT). These tests play a huge part in essential testing before and after travel, as well as prior to visiting with vulnerable individuals (the unvaccinated, the aged and those with underlying health conditions). Many essential businesses also look to continue to protect their business continuity with regular workplace RAT testing and realise the great benefit of reducing spread within the workplace.
If you want more information regards the circulating variants of Covid, the protection provided already by NZ bivalent vaccinations available, and the benefits of maintaining a protocol of RAT surveillance, let us know (you can send us a message here). Coming soon and available pre winter is an updated Ecotest Nasal pentest RAT, which is a 3 in 1 test to detect Covid 19, Influenza and RSV !
by InScience | Apr 8, 2022 | News
Stuff article points to an issue with underreporting of Covid cases – my response
[Click here to read the original Stuff.co.nz news article]
It is with interest that I read this news article that cites 50 million RATs distributed throughout NZ but only 1 million results reported and added to that two rather misleading comments on the performance of NZ MoH approved Covid 19 rapid antigen tests.
The Stuff article quotes Rapid antigen tests with as low as 50% accuracy which is misleading and untrue if used properly. This can only be due to poor sample collection and incorrect procedure primarily by those self testing and such a statement reduces peoples confidence. It can be fiddly and complex and many don’t understand the significance of each required process steps, the need to follow the directions and to process the test with care and attention. The range of sensitivities upwards from 86 % sensitivity, the greater than 90% accuracy is very achievable in a Rapid antigen test when performed by someone who knows what they are doing.
Stuff article points to underreporting of Covid cases as an issue although I do understand how this happens and would hasten to add that at this stage of the pandemic in NZ I don’t see the weight of importance put on that.
The stuff article also quotes those that say that rapid antigen tests have a high incidence of false positives and false negatives. Lets explore that. It isn’t a false negative if the person has covid but isn’t infectious. That may be a contentious statement but it is my opinion when taking into account the purpose of doing the test. Yes, false negatives are possible in any screen if the sample isn’t properly collected or is inadequate giving more fuel to my comment that you must follow the instructions or use a RAT with the simplest collection method.
False positives are a lot less likely in fact I would question its prevalence and say rare. False positives resulting from a cross reaction with another virus is very low with the specificity in the high 98-99 % would indicate that this is less likely to be a false positive. False positive because the viral load is too low is more likely the source of the comment but RAT is used to detect when there is a viral load high enough to be infectious.
Next comment quoted I take issue with is the claim that Rapid antigen tests should be stopped and replaced by PCR when in fact they are there to achieve different things. We don’t need to diagnose Covid 19 now but more importantly we need to know if someone is infectious. PCR is diagnostic meaning does the person have Covid 19 with the high potential for a false positive as it will also call positive and diagnose as positive someone that has had Covid 19 but recovered and past any infectious stage.
RATS are serving a great purpose and one for which they are intended when our communities in a medium to high incidence of covid infections it is used for determining those that are infectious or have enough viral load that they are capable of infecting others and should therefore isolate to avoid passing it on to others. This has been well demonstrated and continues to serve a great purpose for workplaces where business continuity is critical for many and business is threatened if already strained employees numbers are further reduced by the virus spreading among workers. All approved RATS in NZ are “fit for purpose having met performance criteria for specificity, sensitivity and accuracy.Some RAT brands are more complex to perform and this increases the potential for inaccuracy however there is one that is extremely simple providing more likely accuracy in the hands of inexperienced people in a variety of challenging environments.
What to consider to achieve good accuracy, ability to trust a RAT result and get best value for your business?
- Train your workers how to perform the collection and test properly
- Choose the simplest method/test (ask us about the Pen Test)
- Perform regular tests at least twice a week in low to medium incidence and daily when you have positive cases close in the working community
Trust a positive ! Keep checking negatives especially if symptomatic to determine if and when you may become infectious and able to transmit or pass on the virus to others. If positive by RAT- Isolate till negative
by InScience | Jan 10, 2022 | News
Key information about Rapid Antigen Testing
Here’s a handy infographic to summarise the main points about the Roche RAT test. You can find out more about the RAT test on this page, and when you’re ready to make a purchase, take a look at our shop page.
by InScience | Jan 10, 2022 | News
The legacy of cannabis legalisation
This link relates to a late night happenstance that made for an interesting watch. Main interest for Ann-louise was cannabis as a gateway drug, the emergence of dangerous edibles since cannabis has been legalised in Colorado and a huge increase in psychosis and psychotic episodes after legalisation largely attributed to higher THC dose “dabbing” or “dabs”. Interesting also as we had Colorado held up as a positive model during the cannabis legalisation debate in New Zealand. Recommended viewing!
by InScience | Nov 17, 2021 | News
Key elements — testing isn’t just for people who don’t want or can’t get the vaccine. It’s another tool that can be applied for everyone initially in the workplace but also when possible in the community to identify risk, prevent infection transmission and stay as safe as possible so together we can defeat COVID-19 as fast as possible!
Inscience have secured MOH approved COVID-19 Antigen tests that are already in use in NZ, are accurate, tested and approved option for rapid testing. This type of Covid Test will soon be approved for use and delivery to and for your workplace by trained testers able to understand, guide and meet your testing needs. Learn more about how to purchase and implement serial rapid testing using our Ministry of Health authorized tests.
It’s clear that our personal choices have a significant impact on the greater scheme of things, which is perhaps no more true than when it comes to COVID-19 vaccines and COVID testing.
Unfortunately, despite the fact that our government have made vaccines widely available and have continuously encouraged people to get vaccinated many choose not to or some cannot get the vaccination for health reasons. The people who are unvaccinated are at risk of more serious illness and more likely to have poor outcomes and those that are vaccinated have lower the chances of contracting the virus, and in case of infection, decrease the chances of serious illness. WE encourage those with concerns over whether too get vaccinated to search out credible advise on this.
Whether people are vaccinated or not, it’s important to remember that we all need to take steps to help manage our collective lives alongside COVID-19. To do so, an extremely valuable measure in our battle to control ongoing spread of Covid infection is to COVID test on a regular basis to protect our people, their whanau and wider community. Identifying risk and taking action to reduce or eliminate that risk has long been a part of a NZ workplace and surveillance using Covid 19 rapid antigen testing will be available soon to identify covid infection and risk.
By COVID testing on a regular basis, even when asymptomatic, you are limiting the extent to which the virus can spread to others.
Scale matters. Imagine for a moment, a future where people were tested on a regular routine basis and could then immediately self-isolated if they were determined infectious/contagious with COVID-19. Studies estimate and state that regular testing every five days can lead to a 40% reduction in the number of infections – and those estimates are based on a more lengthy 24-hour PCR processing time of a result.
Rapid antigen testing frequency and who should bbe tested needs careful consideration and we can help you determine this and how it may work for your workplace(s)
Rapid antigen tests will be available from Inscience, and provided as a testing service in your workplace by Drugwise, local to you, can provide accurate results in just 15 minutes and up to 45 results per hour and can provide peace of mind to a worker and the workplace of any risk from Covid 19 and you can arrange for followup action to self-isolate. Combining frequent testing, vaccination, and our routine applicable measures such as mask wearing, hand washing and physical distancing is the answer to beating the COVID-19 pandemic once and for all.
Order your information pack today.
