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In full explosion of cases of Covid-19 For the Omicron variant, we solve some of the most frequent doubts regarding the autotis from antígenos and how to proceed in case of testing positive.
-What does the T that appears in the antigen test mean?
The T line is essential to know if the antigen test has been carried out correctly and what the result is. When one performs a test at home, following the 15-minute wait, regardless of the result, the control line (C) should always be visible, which indicates that it has been performed well. If the T line is also marked, the result is positive. The result is negative when only the control line is painted.
But if no line appears or only the T line appears, the test is invalid and it is advised to repeat it.
-Are there false positives in the antigen tests? And false negatives?
Antigen tests are highly specific, comparable to PCR in detecting infection in the first week following infection. In the nasopharynx, the highest viral load is observed especially in the first 5 to 7 days and then decreases until its disappearance. False positives in antigen tests are more frequent in massive screenings in populations with a low prevalence of infection. They can also be due to contamination of the sample, as explained by the cadratic of Microbiology María del Mar Tavío in this article.
It is also possible to obtain false negatives, since this type of test has a lower sensitivity than that of PCR and its effectiveness is reduced if the viral load is low, which occurs during the initial or final days of the infection. Those with a low viral load or asymptomatic may be more likely to get a false negative.
-If I take a test and it comes out positive, do I have to do a PCR?
Not anymore, although it depends on the situation. The results of the self-tests, in situations in which the autonomous communities cannot guarantee the confirmation in time by PDIA, and that, therefore, are handled as Covid cases, will be considered confirmed, they will be integrated into the surveillance system and the usual notification through SIVIES to the Ministry of Health, according to the document of
Adaptation of the Covid-19 Early Detection, Surveillance and Control Strategy in a period of high community transmission, updated on December 30.
In the current situation, priority will be given to performing laboratory diagnostic tests to confirm suspected cases in those with more serious symptoms, people with greater vulnerability and those who belong to vulnerable environments.
-What quarantine do I have to keep if I test positive?
The latest update of the consensual strategy in the Interterritorial Health Council establishes a period of 7 days for the isolation of confirmed cases asymptomatic or with mild symptoms, if at the end of this period the person is asymptomatic and at least three days have elapsed following the resolution of the symptoms, including asymptomatic or mild cases that occur in centers for the elderly and other health centers. For those people with severe disease or immunosuppression the minimum isolation period of 21 days. For personnel working in health or social health centers, an antigen test will be carried out on the 7th before returning to their job.
After the 7-day isolation period and up to 10 days following the onset of symptoms or the date of diagnosis in asymptomatic cases, positive people they should exercise extreme caution and reduce social interactions as much as possible by constantly wearing the mask. Especially contact with vulnerable people should be avoided.
-What if I’ve been close contact?
Close contacts vaccinated with the full schedule will be exempt from quarantine with the exceptions that are included in the
Strategy for the early detection, surveillance and control of COVID-19 of December 22.
In the close contacts identified who are not vaccinated, the duration of the quarantine will be 7 days as long as they do not develop symptoms during this period. In the following 10 days following the last contact, they must take extreme measures of protection (use of a mask, limitation of the number of social contacts …).
In close contacts, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, priority will be given to performing laboratory diagnostic tests on vulnerable people (over 70 years of age, immunosuppression due to intrinsic or extrinsic causes, or pregnant women) and their caregivers (professionals or family members) as well as well as health or social health personnel and people who are admitted to a health or social health center. In these cases, a single test will be performed 3-5 days following the last contact.
-Who do I have to notify if I test positive?
You should contact your health center by phone to inform them that you are positive. In addition, you should inform your close contacts of this situation, since during the 10 days following the last exposure, close contacts should exercise extreme caution and reduce social interactions as much as possible by constantly using the mask.
-What quarantine do children have to keep at school?
The Government and the communities have unanimously agreed that the return to school following the Christmas holidays be face-to-face. Regarding the quarantines that must be carried out in the classrooms in case of infections, the Minister of Health, Carolina Darias, assured last Tuesday that, although the protocols are being adapted to the epidemiological situation and there was a proposal from the Commission Public Health (which proposes ending quarantines in a general way in the entire educational field, as revealed by ABC), until a decision is made, the same protocols as for the rest of the population would be followed: close contacts vaccinated would be exempt , while the unvaccinated would have to follow the same quarantine as the rest of the population, that is, seven days.
Regarding the quarantines in classrooms, the Public Health Commission has agreed this Friday that school groups They will only quarantine when there are five or more cases of coronavirus in class or when 20% of the class is infected. If there are four infections or less, they will be considered sporadic cases.
However, communities such as Madrid or Andalusia had already announced that they were going to abolish quarantines in the educational field. Specifically, the Madrid’s community has established that, given the appearance of sporadic cases, there will be no quarantines in educational centers for children under 12 years of age, although the General Directorate of Public Health will indicate the actions to be followed in the event of outbreaks in which there is an epidemiological link.
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