Listen "COVID-19: Rapid Testing"
Episode Synopsis
PUBLISHED: 17/10/2020
The need for rapid Covid testing is crucial to flattening this curve. When will they be available?
Ottawa and Toronto are coping with more lockdowns, and several areas in Quebec are in the same situation. The federal government has announced the purchase of almost 8 million rapid tests. It was aiming to conduct 200 thousand a day across the country, but currently we’re seeing about 70 thousand completed. The question for many is ‘why is it taking so long?’ for Health Canada to give approval.
What exactly is available now? What’s coming down the pipe? Will Canada have the lab capacity to meet the demand?
————————————
GUESTS:
Dr Steven Newmaster - Genomics Professor at University of Guelph - https://www.uoguelph.ca/ib/newmaster
David Juncker - Professor & Chair of the Biomedical Engineer/Genome Centre at McGill University -https://www.mcgill.ca/bbme/david-juncker
Christine Neilson - CEO at Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science -https://www.csmls.org/About-Us/About-CSMLS/Staff.aspx
————————————
REFERENCES:
https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/canada-approves-new-rapid-covid-19-test-for-use-in-coming-weeks-pm-1.5126678
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/lockdown-rapid-testing-1.5758034
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/10/do-rapid-antigen-tests-have-accuracy-problem/616681/
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-ottawa-to-buy-nearly-eight-million-rapid-covid-19-tests-despite-lack/
https://covid-19.ontario.ca/covid-19-test-and-testing-location-information?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8pD23cax7AIVEI_ICh3_ygd2EAMYASAAEgLh-PD_BwE
https://globalnews.ca/news/7369763/canada-rapid-coronavirus-tests/
https://www.thestar.com/business/2020/10/05/health-canada-needs-to-ramp-up-rapid-testing-for-covid-19-as-cases-rise-across-the-country-infectious-disease-experts-say.html
https://globalnews.ca/news/7381031/how-coronavirus-rapid-tests-will-help/
https://globalnews.ca/news/7341338/canada-coronavirus-testing-capacity/
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2020/09/30/news/ottawa-unveils-deal-buy-millions-rapid-covid-19-test-devices
https://financialpost.com/opinion/andrew-richter-the-rapid-need-for-rapid-response-tests
https://www.guelphtoday.com/following-up/guelph-company-close-to-bringing-15-minute-saliva-based-covid-test-to-market-2718836
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/health-canada-approves-id-now-1.5744768
https://healthydebate.ca/opinions/falling-behind-rapid-covid-testing
https://www.timescolonist.com/rapid-test-kit-recall-underscores-importance-of-canada-s-lab-technologists-1.24129744
https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-press-newsalert-health-canada-green-lights-first-rapid-covid-19-tes
https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/covid-19-antigen-tests-1.5761718
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/rapid-tests-biomedical-engineer-detect-active-infectious-phase-1.5760649
https://www.thespec.com/opinion/editorials/2020/10/15/its-time-for-canada-to-ramp-up-rapid-testing-for-covid-19.html
https://aircanada.mediaroom.com/2020-10-01-Air-Canada-Finalizing-Initial-Order-for-Newly-Approved-COVID-19-Rapid-Testing-Kits-from-Abbott
https://nationalpost.com/opinion/opinion-make-mask-wearing-a-sign-of-personal-strength-not-weakness-lives-depend-on-it?fbclid=IwAR1SHGmozCXCMN2KSAQfLkqeRJy8t9hzfZUK_VzCfs7toSi6Rm34HTqfLdc
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/lockdown-rapid-testing-1.5758034
https://www.thestar.com/business/2020/09/21/a-15-minute-covid-19-test-kit-was-recently-approved-in-the-us-why-is-canada-so-far-behind.html
The need for rapid Covid testing is crucial to flattening this curve. When will they be available?
Ottawa and Toronto are coping with more lockdowns, and several areas in Quebec are in the same situation. The federal government has announced the purchase of almost 8 million rapid tests. It was aiming to conduct 200 thousand a day across the country, but currently we’re seeing about 70 thousand completed. The question for many is ‘why is it taking so long?’ for Health Canada to give approval.
What exactly is available now? What’s coming down the pipe? Will Canada have the lab capacity to meet the demand?
————————————
GUESTS:
Dr Steven Newmaster - Genomics Professor at University of Guelph - https://www.uoguelph.ca/ib/newmaster
David Juncker - Professor & Chair of the Biomedical Engineer/Genome Centre at McGill University -https://www.mcgill.ca/bbme/david-juncker
Christine Neilson - CEO at Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science -https://www.csmls.org/About-Us/About-CSMLS/Staff.aspx
————————————
REFERENCES:
https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/canada-approves-new-rapid-covid-19-test-for-use-in-coming-weeks-pm-1.5126678
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/lockdown-rapid-testing-1.5758034
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/10/do-rapid-antigen-tests-have-accuracy-problem/616681/
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-ottawa-to-buy-nearly-eight-million-rapid-covid-19-tests-despite-lack/
https://covid-19.ontario.ca/covid-19-test-and-testing-location-information?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8pD23cax7AIVEI_ICh3_ygd2EAMYASAAEgLh-PD_BwE
https://globalnews.ca/news/7369763/canada-rapid-coronavirus-tests/
https://www.thestar.com/business/2020/10/05/health-canada-needs-to-ramp-up-rapid-testing-for-covid-19-as-cases-rise-across-the-country-infectious-disease-experts-say.html
https://globalnews.ca/news/7381031/how-coronavirus-rapid-tests-will-help/
https://globalnews.ca/news/7341338/canada-coronavirus-testing-capacity/
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2020/09/30/news/ottawa-unveils-deal-buy-millions-rapid-covid-19-test-devices
https://financialpost.com/opinion/andrew-richter-the-rapid-need-for-rapid-response-tests
https://www.guelphtoday.com/following-up/guelph-company-close-to-bringing-15-minute-saliva-based-covid-test-to-market-2718836
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/health-canada-approves-id-now-1.5744768
https://healthydebate.ca/opinions/falling-behind-rapid-covid-testing
https://www.timescolonist.com/rapid-test-kit-recall-underscores-importance-of-canada-s-lab-technologists-1.24129744
https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-press-newsalert-health-canada-green-lights-first-rapid-covid-19-tes
https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/covid-19-antigen-tests-1.5761718
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/rapid-tests-biomedical-engineer-detect-active-infectious-phase-1.5760649
https://www.thespec.com/opinion/editorials/2020/10/15/its-time-for-canada-to-ramp-up-rapid-testing-for-covid-19.html
https://aircanada.mediaroom.com/2020-10-01-Air-Canada-Finalizing-Initial-Order-for-Newly-Approved-COVID-19-Rapid-Testing-Kits-from-Abbott
https://nationalpost.com/opinion/opinion-make-mask-wearing-a-sign-of-personal-strength-not-weakness-lives-depend-on-it?fbclid=IwAR1SHGmozCXCMN2KSAQfLkqeRJy8t9hzfZUK_VzCfs7toSi6Rm34HTqfLdc
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/lockdown-rapid-testing-1.5758034
https://www.thestar.com/business/2020/09/21/a-15-minute-covid-19-test-kit-was-recently-approved-in-the-us-why-is-canada-so-far-behind.html
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