Potential COVID testing surge

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF) – CEO of Vault Health Jason Feldman expects an increase in COVID testing. Not only will companies with more than 100 workers soon be required to have unvaccinated employees undergo regular testing, but increased holiday travel and school screenings will also increase testing.

“If you’ve been exposed to Covid or believe that you’ve been exposed to Covid there’s a really good chance you have some risk even if unfortunately you’re vaccinated. Do you want to know for sure because you may not have symptoms and we know the upward to 40% of people who are contagious with Covid are actually asymptomatic. So when you’re worried about exposure or your child is at home from school because someone else in the class has been exposed it’s really important to get a test,” said Feldman.

He says the stress on the supply chain as well the increased demand for testing could impact availability. 

“There is just a glut of activity happening and of course the supply chain for testing is limited. So it’s really important to understand and really plan, to the extent that you can, when you need to have a Covid test to make sure you are prepared so you know what you were going to do,” said Feldman.

The two most common testing options are a PCR test and a rapid test, each should be used for different situations. 

“Well PCR test looks for and detect genetic material from the virus so it actually has a very accurate, literally 98% accurate. Where is rapid test which typically check for antigens so think of this as a protein on the actual virus. If you have a really symptomatic person who is experiencing some illness and you take an antigen test it will be very confirmative,” said Feldman.