Confluence Health Switches to Antigen COVID Test

Confluence Health decided that, effective last Wednesday, the health entity would stop performing PCR COVID tests and switch to antigen COVID tests.

Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jason Lake said the PCR test looks for RNA which, much like DNA for more complex organisms, make up a virus' genetic information.

"There is a very specific test that you do to amplify that RNA and test for it, and that's what a PCR does. Because that's a more specialized test it has to be done in facilities that have that equipment." said Dr. Lake, "The antigen test is looking for other viral proteins, so not necessarily the RNA."

Dr. Lake stated that the new antigen test can be processed within their facility, has a turnaround time that's usually within the same day, is a more comfortable test, and allows for better contact tracing.

"We can notify the patient, and they can do a better job isolating themselves and quarantining themselves in their house to prevent the spread of this disease. It also allows the health district to start contact tracing more quickly to identify individuals that the patient had come in contact with," Lake added.

The machine Confluence is using for the new antigen tests is the same machine they use for flu testing. Lake added they will need to set up their workflows with the machines because people coming in with respiratory problems during the flue season will likely need to be tested for both the flu and COVID.