Ontario government and U of G to launch a pilot program to provide rapid and mobile COVID-19 testing for those on campus and students in residence
The University of Guelph announced on Thursday Feb. 25 that rapid COVID-19 testing and mobile testing sites will be coming to campus with the launch of a pilot program in partnership with the provincial government.
The rapid testing will be provided for people required to be on campus, and rapid mobile testing clinics will be for students living in residence. The purpose of the program is to identify people who may be asymptomatic and who are missed by regular screening protocols.
Two rapid mobile testing clinics will be set up on Feb. 26 and 27, and the school is encouraging students to participate, especially those returning from Reading Week.
The rapid test is an antigen test that provides results in about 15 minutes. If a student receives a positive test result, the next step is to take the standard PCR test for confirmation. They will then be given instructions on how to isolate, and high-risk contacts, along with Public Health, will be notified.
The provincial pilot enables the university to run an eight-week COVID-19 rapid testing screening program for those required to be on campus, including faculty, staff, and students. The program began in early February, and requires participants to undergo the rapid testing antigen test twice a week.
The province has provided the university with 4,000 tests for the rapid testing program, and Student Health Services staff will run the mobile clinics.
However, the university notes that the additional screening they are providing with this program doesn’t replace any of the current precautionary measures already in place on campus.
Difference between tests:
The rapid test, otherwise known as an antigen test, detects specific proteins from the virus, according to the FDA.
Similar to the standard PCR test, an antigen test uses a nasal swab to obtain a sample. However, it works by mixing the sample with a solution that unleashes specific viral proteins, which is then applied to a paper strip that contains an antibody that will bind the proteins if they’re present. Like a pregnancy test, the result is shown as a band on a paper strip.
While these tests are cheaper and faster, providing results in under 30 minutes, they also provide more false negatives, and aren’t as accurate as the standard PCR tests. That is why if someone gets a positive result from an antigen test in the pilot program, they are required to undergo a PCR test for confirmation.
PCR tests, or molecular tests, are considered to be the “gold standard” in Ontario. A sample is obtained through a swab in the nose or back of the throat, and is sent to a lab to look for the virus’ genetic material through reverse transcription – converting RNA (since the virus doesn’t have DNA) to DNA and then making millions of copies of the DNA so it is easier to detect.
While this process takes much longer than antigen testing as it needs to be sent to a lab, its results are almost 100 per cent accurate.
Please visit www.theontarion.com/submit to find out how you can share your work with The Ontarion.