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Source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova...cking-rapid-tests-with-throat-swabs-1.6307419
Why health experts discourage 'hacking' rapid tests with throat swabs
Keep the tests in the nose until science can show otherwise, experts advise
Anjuli Patil · CBC News · Posted: Jan 07, 2022 2:59 PM AT | Last Updated: 7 hours ago
Health experts are discouraging people from using self-administered rapid antigen COVID-19 tests in their throats instead of their noses.
The hack is gaining popularity on spaces like TikTok, where some users have uploaded videos of themselves using a rapid test in their nose and getting a negative result, but then doing it again in their throat and getting a positive result.
"Right now, I don't recommend people start swabbing random parts of their upper head and neck, including the throat, until we get those data out there, and, hopefully, we should have some of that soon," Dr. Lisa Barrett, an infectious disease specialist, told CBC's Information Morning Halifax on Friday.
Barrett said she's aware that the trend is gaining popularity. She said the hack is being tested in multiple control groups across Canada, including at a lab in Nova Scotia.
But until there is verification, Barrett and Nova Scotia's Department of Health and Wellness say people should continue to use the self-administered nasal swabs as directed.
During an interview with The National earlier this week, another infectious disease expert, Dr. Zain Chagla, noted saliva could prevent a test kit from working properly.
'Not all kits are meant to do saliva'
"Not all kits are meant to do saliva and so you really want to make sure that's within the guidelines of your kit. Otherwise you may get a negative result when you're aiming to get a positive result and making behavioural changes based on that," Chagla said...
Why health experts discourage 'hacking' rapid tests with throat swabs
Keep the tests in the nose until science can show otherwise, experts advise
Anjuli Patil · CBC News · Posted: Jan 07, 2022 2:59 PM AT | Last Updated: 7 hours ago
Health experts are discouraging people from using self-administered rapid antigen COVID-19 tests in their throats instead of their noses.
The hack is gaining popularity on spaces like TikTok, where some users have uploaded videos of themselves using a rapid test in their nose and getting a negative result, but then doing it again in their throat and getting a positive result.
"Right now, I don't recommend people start swabbing random parts of their upper head and neck, including the throat, until we get those data out there, and, hopefully, we should have some of that soon," Dr. Lisa Barrett, an infectious disease specialist, told CBC's Information Morning Halifax on Friday.
Barrett said she's aware that the trend is gaining popularity. She said the hack is being tested in multiple control groups across Canada, including at a lab in Nova Scotia.
But until there is verification, Barrett and Nova Scotia's Department of Health and Wellness say people should continue to use the self-administered nasal swabs as directed.
During an interview with The National earlier this week, another infectious disease expert, Dr. Zain Chagla, noted saliva could prevent a test kit from working properly.
'Not all kits are meant to do saliva'
"Not all kits are meant to do saliva and so you really want to make sure that's within the guidelines of your kit. Otherwise you may get a negative result when you're aiming to get a positive result and making behavioural changes based on that," Chagla said...