The Omicron variant of Covid-19 has increased risk of showing a negative Covid-19 test result, said the head of Latvian National Reference Laboratory for Microbiology Sergejs Ņikišins in an interview to LTV programme Rīta panorāma.
The specialist explained that laboratory data reveals that Omicron is slowly becoming the dominant Covid-19 variant in Latvia, because already half of the inspected positive Covid-19 tests reveal this mutation. Ņikišins stressed that experts are looking for mutations typical for Omicron in all positively tested samples using PCR method. Random samples also undergo a full mutation test.
Ņikišins said tests involving animals revealed that Omicron causes a lighter infection, but it is important to keep in mind that this mutation of the coronavirus reproduces more in the throat and less in the nasal cavity. The expert believes information like this helps improve the testing policy and testing recommendations. This means samples should be taken more from the throat, not the nose.
«No one could expect this virus variant would like the throat more than the nose. This explains why infected people suffer from the loss of smell less often,» says Ņikišins.
It is mentioned also that Omicron may cause people to be tested negative for Covid-19.
This is why it is recommended for residents to undergo two Covid-19 tests. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the World Health Organisation have yet to provide any official recommendations, but it is clear Omicron develops in the nose with a delay, which means there is a higher possibility of getting a negative test result from the nose and a positive test result from the throat. «By doing two tests there is a higher possibility of getting the correct test result. However, is a person has symptoms and justified concerns of infection, they should sign up for a laboratory test so that it is possible to get a nasopharyngeal sample,» adds the specialist, stressing that a PCR test is more sensitive and faster than an antigen test.
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Ņikišins believes it is necessary to change the sample collection tactic and how tests are used in different places, which is already being done in response to the latest discoveries about the nature of the virus.
Latvian Minister of Health Daniels Pavļuts stressed in his interview to LTV that antigen tests make up a major part of Latvia’s Covid-19 testing policy because the are not based on the limited resources available to laboratories.
«Self-test results are largely determined on the quality of sample-taking. I believe all the people who underwent tests in laboratories know this process is unpleasant. This is why self-test samples should be taken very carefully,» stressed the politician.
Self-tests are not laboratory tests. This is why statistical information is based only on PCR tests, not quick self-tests. «We don’t have better alternative to self-tests because it is not possible to perform laboratory tests for every student three times a week. Self-tests, on the other hand, still help us uncover infection cases. This helps us organise focused inspections and prevent infection from spreading deeper within communities and groups,» said the minister.
Infectologist: Omicron has increased risks of showing negative Covid-19 test result
