Key TakeawaysAccording to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Omicron variant has mutations that may cause some COVID-19 tests to miss it.However, despite the mutations, current testing methods are still useful for diagnosing COVID.Rapid antigen testing, which can be done at home, also allows people to test repeatedly for COVID.

Key Takeaways

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Omicron variant has mutations that may cause some COVID-19 tests to miss it.However, despite the mutations, current testing methods are still useful for diagnosing COVID.Rapid antigen testing, which can be done at home, also allows people to test repeatedly for COVID.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently released alist of COVID PCR teststhat may not accurately detect theOmicron variant, presenting people with a false negative result.

Verywell spoke to Adrianna Bravo, MD, FAAP, pediatrician, and senior medical advisor forInspire Diagnostics, about the science behind why Omicron is slipping through the testing cracks.

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Does Omicron Affect COVID Tests?

Rapid antigen testingworks a little differently;instead of looking for genetic code, these tests look for molecules on the virus’s surface—the infamous spike protein.

Rapid antigen tests are less accurate than PCR tests, but they are more time-efficient and allow people to test many times over a few days, which can help detect the virus as it takes holdin the body.

Should I Use a PCR or Rapid Test for COVID-19?

When the virus mutates, parts of the genetic code change. Many tests search for several different markers on the code, but if one of the markers has mutated, it may go undetected.

Bravo told Verywell that Omicron’s numerous mutations are different from the genetic markers that the current PCR tests use.

“The Omicron variant has a significant number of mutations—30 plus,” Bravo told Verywell. “When we look at those mutations, some of them are on the portion of the genetic code that some PCR tests use to detect the virus.”

Bravo said that if the specific portion of the genetic code that the test is made to detect happens to be one of those 30-plus mutations, then the test may not see the virus and a person might get a false-negative test result.

Are At-Home COVID Tests Accurate?

Encouragingly, though, Bravo said that many PCR tests look for several portions of COVID’s genetic code. Looking for more sections means there’s a greater likelihood of detection—which is why the FDA specifically warned about COVID tests that look for just one section of the genetic code.

So far, rapid antigen tests seem to be working in the face of Omicron. While rapid antigen tests are lessaccuratethan PCR tests across the board, they appear to be just as good at detecting Omicron as they were at detecting the Alpha or Deltavariants of the COVID virus.

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Do We Need New Tests?

According to the FDA, research on how Omicron could affect COVID tests is ongoing. Based on what we know so far, there are tests in use that are able to detect the variant.

Even though antigen tests are not as accurate as PCR tests, the ability to test sequentially increases their value. Geoff Trenkle, D.O, CMO, and the founder of Total Testing Solutions, told Verywell that the ability to get results back quickly is one reason that rapid tests continue to be useful.

“For more accurate rests, we always recommend doing rt-PCR testing—especially if you are symptomatic,"' said Trenkle. “Rapid testing is less accurate as a rule of thumb, but if you need a result quickly, it is very helpful. If you’re asymptomatic and want to visit relatives, any test is better than no test at all.”

Bravo agreed, adding that “rapid antigen tests are a great tool for surveillance of the virus. If you’ve done something high risk—such as a big gathering—you can start taking the test two to three days laterat home, and then testing 24 hours after that to ensure you haven’t picked up something.”

How to Get a Free At-Home COVID-19 Test

Does the Variant You Have Matter?

Doing more testing, whether PCR or rapid antigen, will not tell you which variant you have—but that’s probably fine. Bravo said that information is really more of interest to health care professionals and researchers than it would be for you.

What This Means For You

While there might be a greater likelihood of getting a false negative result with some PCR tests, testing is still encouraged—especially if you have COVID symptoms.

When in doubt, a rapid antigen test will give you a snapshot of your viral load at the moment and can be repeated until you get a conclusive negative orpositive result.

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The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.

1 SourceVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Food and Drug Administration. SARS-CoV-2 Viral Mutations: Impact on COVID-19 Tests. Updated December 22, 2021.

1 Source

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Food and Drug Administration. SARS-CoV-2 Viral Mutations: Impact on COVID-19 Tests. Updated December 22, 2021.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Food and Drug Administration. SARS-CoV-2 Viral Mutations: Impact on COVID-19 Tests. Updated December 22, 2021.

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