This is a solo episode in which I critique the design of Abbott’s BinaxNow Covid-19 Antigen Self Test. This test is available in retail stores (in the USA a pack of two costs, in June of 2021, about $20). It tests for proteins one’s body makes when fighting a Covid-19 infection, the symptoms of which not everyone experiences in the same way. The use of rapid antigen self tests could revolutionize public health for COVID and beyond. Imagine getting ready to visit someone you love whose health is compromised in some way that makes them highly susceptible to a disease that is going around your area. A rapid self-test can put minds at ease, especially for symptoms that allergies can mimic. Use of rapid self tests can protect coworkers, family, friends, etc., because if enough people use them during a time of an outbreak, those who may test positive for being infectious can self-isolate and prevent the spread while they contact their doctor to get help if needed. Self tests make the invisible become visible so people can make healthy choices. I also think it’s important for the results to be private for the person testing themselves and not report the test result via phone or computer to an organization that may or may not respect patient confidentiality. The BinaxNow test is non-electronic so I like it for that reason already. The patient is free to divulge their result if they want to, and could even take the test in front of someone if some kind of confirmation of the result is needed, but privacy is built in to the design by default.
The BinaxNow test is as easy to use as advertised. The only improvements needed in my experience are a lower price per unit and less daunting technical communication. Perhaps for regulatory reasons, the BinaxNow instructions have a LOT of text on a double sided poster. But the instructions worked for me in the first use, so criticizing the instructions might be unfair.
As promised in the episode, here are some links about the advantages of cheap, easy to use rapid antigen self tests from the two experts discussed in this episode. There are no doubt other experts out there and I encourage you to do your own research. Depending on one’s personal risk profile and the risk profiles of the people around you, this product category may have a lot to offer the world.
Dr. Michael Mina’s radio interview about rapid self-tests:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1XTc29ZGtM
Dr. Mina’s article from December 2020 about rapid self tests’ ability to stop Covid-19 spread quickly:
https://time.com/5912705/covid-19-stop-spread-christmas/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=editorial&utm_term=ideas_covid-19&linkId=104733190
Dr. Robert Epstein’s Carrier Separation Plan to use rapid self tests to stop the spread of any pathogen in a population:
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.640009/full
A good paper on the importance of testing frequency and fast results for reducing an infectious disease:
https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/7/1/eabd5393?utm_campaign=SciMag&utm_source=JHubbard&utm_medium=Twitter
The development of a rapid saliva test is on the way:
https://theshillongtimes.com/2021/05/21/new-rapid-antigen-test-can-detect-covid-in-saliva-accurately/
Another saliva test for Covid-19!
https://www.pleasantonweekly.com/print/story/2021/05/14/livermore-company-develops-first-rapid-saliva-covid-19-test