Interior Health has clarified their stance on the efficacy of COVID-19 rapid antigen tests (RAT), after an internal memo was circulated on social media.
In the memo, which was addressed from five medical leads in B.C on Monday, Jan. 8, it stated that “COVID-19 rapid antigen tests (RAT) are not reliable for diagnosis of COVID-19.”
It continues: “On Nov. 21, 2023, the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) and Provincial Laboratory Medicine services issued a memo stating that the BCCDC) oversight of COVID RAT has been withdrawn.
“As such, COVID-19 RAT testing can no longer be used to direct clinical care or Infection Prevention and Control measures, and must be discontinued immediately in Interior Health affiliated emergency rooms, hospitals, long term care facilities or outpatient settings.”
On Tuesday, Jan. 9, IH responded with a statement that while “RAT still has a role in diagnosing COVID-19 in members of the public and is a valuable tool if positive, it does not rule out respiratory viral illness if negative, especially since it doesn’t test for other respiratory viruses like influenza or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
“Moving forward, RAT will no longer be used for clinical decision making in our health care facilities which is a change supported across the province to ensure all clinical care and infection prevention and control decisions are based on the most accurate information to maintain patient safety.”
IH added that RAT detects infections in more than 70 to 80 per cent of patients with COVID-19 and is a great “tool” within the community to inform individuals if they could be infected, but its unable to test for common respiratory viruses.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing is required in the more crucial health care setting as it can also detect influenza and RSV.
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