This Thursday, new antigenic, olfactory, and saliva tests were launched as part of an experimental protocol at the request of the president of the Nice Côte d’Azur metropolis, Christian Estrosi.
Improving the speed of result processing. This is the goal of this new experiment desired by the metropolis, which will last two weeks at the Palais des Expositions. “The objective is to identify symptomatic or non-symptomatic individuals with a high viral load and therefore particularly contagious”, states Christian Estrosi.
Olfactory tests for initial guidance
It is important to note that these tests do not determine if a person is infected with the coronavirus. Their primary utility is to detect the loss of smell, one of the first recognized symptoms. “The tests are quite easy to implement. They involve using perfumer’s strips found in perfume shops. The important aspect of these tests is to determine if one can smell anything or not. The identification isn’t crucial; it serves more of a scientific research purpose because, in a naive population, it’s very difficult to recognize odors without priming”, explains Jérémy Topin, a lecturer at the University specializing in quantum chemistry. “Ultimately, the idea is to be able to distribute it to the general public”, he adds. This innovation aims to direct individuals towards PCR screening while preventing further spread of the disease.
Alternative saliva tests
This process involves searching for coronavirus genetic material from a saliva sample. Specifically, the test takes the form of a small hemostatic swab (which stops bleeding) placed in the mouth. It can also be used nasally.
“Compared to simply spitting saliva into a pot, this method allows for the collection of cells with these non-invasive little sponges. They triple in size in a few seconds and abrade cells, either buccal or nasal preferably,” specifies Professor Charles-Hugo Marquette, pulmonologist at the CHU of Nice.
The idea here is, in a more or less near future, to allow contact cases or individuals with symptoms to self-test by transporting this swab in a sterilized tube to a laboratory for analysis. There will be no more need to rely on the expertise of medical personnel. Today, the procedure is in the testing phase to determine which method remains most effective.
More refined and quicker antigenic tests
The method remains the same as for a PCR test, with the only difference being that the swab is finer. Once the sample is taken, using a reactive solution, the antigenic test detects COVID-19 proteins, thus allowing for a result within around thirty minutes, without going through a laboratory for analysis. This solution is also currently being tested by five general practitioners in the city.
