Corona tests in comparison: do they also recognize omicron?

Created: 01/15/2022, 12:49 p.m

The quality of the corona antigen tests varies greatly.

(Iconic image) © Achille Abboud/ Imago

The effectiveness of the corona rapid and self-tests is still being discussed.

An overview of reliable antigen tests in Germany.

Munich - In view of the upcoming omicron wave, a new discussion about the effectiveness of the antigen rapid test and self-test sparked off.

There are now hundreds of tests on the European market.

But are they all equally effective?

And do they recognize an infection with the omicron variant?

In order to clarify this, the Paul Ehrlich Institute wants to create a list.

An overview of the effectiveness of the corona test.

The quality of the corona tests varies: 80 percent meet the criteria

As the Paul Ehrlich Institute informed in a statement, the quality of the rapid tests varies greatly.

According to an initial assessment by the institute, around 80 percent of the tests offered in Germany meet the required criteria.

However, more detailed studies are needed to make definitive statements.

In addition, it still has to be clarified how sensitive the rapid tests are to the omicron variant.

The PEI is to draw up a list for this on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Health.

Experts are already checking the effectiveness of the tests.

Above all, the sensitivity is tested - i.e. the ability to detect an acute corona infection within a few minutes.

Virologist Sandra Ciesek, Director of the Institute for Medical Virology at the University Hospital in Frankfurt, tested the effectiveness of various antigen tests back in November.

The result: The tests from the manufacturers Roche, Siemens and Flowflex were also able to detect an infection with the omicron mutation.

Corona antigen tests in comparison: These are the most reliable tests

Ciesek's colleague Isabella Eckerle, head of the infectious diseases department in the department of medical specialties at the University Hospitals in Geneva, also shared the results of her investigations on Twitter.

She came to the conclusion that the antigen tests of five other manufacturers also work in the case of an omicron infection.

The following manufacturers therefore offer reliable rapid antigen tests:

• Roche

• Siemens

• Flowflex

• Abbott

• Acon Biotech

• Remier Medical Corporation

• CTK Biotech

In an examination of corona self-tests that are sold in retail and pharmacies, the

came to the conclusion that all 20 tests examined meet the criteria of the PEI.

13 tests even achieved a sensitivity of 100 percent.

These include tests from the manufacturers Anbio, Hotgen, Siemens, Safecare and MP Biomedicals, which are also offered by Lidl, Aldi or DM.

However, these results have not been conclusively confirmed either.

And: A hundred percent security can not be given with any test.

Because even with high-quality tests, false positive or false negative results can occur.

Virologist Sandra Ciesek therefore recommends backing up every test result with a second test.