So to clarify, the 3 targets are intended to include/exclude other viral particles. Targeting 3 genes specific to SARS-COV2 means you're less likely to incorrectly diagnose with a different viral particle. Therefore, 3 hits mean that you can be sure that you are detecting SARS-COV2.
I will say though I tend to agree with the high cycle threshold, and that's been a very big point of contention for many doctors. Regardless, Alpha carries the same 69-70 deletion as Omicron, and when Alpha started emerging we used the dropped S gene as a loose "confirmatory" test for Alpha. Granted, if someone did not do PCR properly they may also not get S gene amplification.
And there is a greater concern of an increase in false positive detections when you lose a gene, although if testers rely on low Ct counts and try retesting it does reduce the odds.
Overall, yes tests are possibly more sensitive than they should be, but to be consistent if we assume the test is positive we can at least use the loss of an S gene to differentiate between Omicron and Delta and provide doctors some information to use when determining how to allocate resources.
You're welcome! Hope this information is helpful. I'm always concerned if it's too heavy with the jargon or if the ideas don't come across well enough.
Appreciate the reply! I'm glad so many people from all over find this information useful!
Although I try to make it clear, please be aware that I am not a doctor and that I intend my information to be used as informative rather than prescriptive so that people can make their own informed decisions.
Using 3 targets for a PCR test with a stupid high cycle is bad enough.
With only 2 targets used how many more false positives will there be?
So to clarify, the 3 targets are intended to include/exclude other viral particles. Targeting 3 genes specific to SARS-COV2 means you're less likely to incorrectly diagnose with a different viral particle. Therefore, 3 hits mean that you can be sure that you are detecting SARS-COV2.
I talked about it in this post:
https://moderndiscontent.substack.com/p/answers-from-an-ex-covid-tester-can
I will say though I tend to agree with the high cycle threshold, and that's been a very big point of contention for many doctors. Regardless, Alpha carries the same 69-70 deletion as Omicron, and when Alpha started emerging we used the dropped S gene as a loose "confirmatory" test for Alpha. Granted, if someone did not do PCR properly they may also not get S gene amplification.
And there is a greater concern of an increase in false positive detections when you lose a gene, although if testers rely on low Ct counts and try retesting it does reduce the odds.
Overall, yes tests are possibly more sensitive than they should be, but to be consistent if we assume the test is positive we can at least use the loss of an S gene to differentiate between Omicron and Delta and provide doctors some information to use when determining how to allocate resources.
Thank you so much for this information
You're welcome! Hope this information is helpful. I'm always concerned if it's too heavy with the jargon or if the ideas don't come across well enough.
I am a hospital pharmacist so I certainly appreciate the detail you provide.
Appreciate the reply! I'm glad so many people from all over find this information useful!
Although I try to make it clear, please be aware that I am not a doctor and that I intend my information to be used as informative rather than prescriptive so that people can make their own informed decisions.