Frequent testing increases chance of detecting COVID-19 infections
The chance of detecting the virus that causes COVID-19 increases with more frequent testing, no matter the type of test, a new study found. Both polymerase chain reaction and antigen tests, paired with rapid results reporting, can achieve 98% sensitivity if deployed at least every three days.
This study shows that frequent testing can be really effective at catching COVID-19 infections and potentially blocking transmission. There are many places where vaccination is not yet widespread. With the rise of variants, testing remains an important tool for blocking the spread of the virus."
Christopher Brooke, study leader, virologist and professor of microbiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign