UPDATES ON COVID 19 (SARS-CoV-2)
Recently, it has been hard to stay up to date with the latest recommendations regarding COVID 19 (SARS CoV 2). Today, I will summarize the most recent recommendations from the CDC as of July 2, 2020.
- Individuals with signs or symptoms consistent with COVID-19
- Asymptomatic individuals with recent known or suspected exposure to SARS-CoV-2 to control transmission (testing is recommended for all close contacts of a person with a confirmed COVID 19 test)
- Asymptomatic individuals without known or suspected exposure to SARS-CoV-2 for early identification in special settings
- Individuals being tested to determine resolution of infection (i.e., test-based strategy for Discontinuation of Transmission-based Precautions, HCP Return to Work, and Discontinuation of Home Isolation)
- Individuals being tested for purposes of public health surveillance for SARS-CoV-2
If you feel you or your child need a test to check for active illness, the current testing sites are listed on the Michigan.gov website. If your child is having any symptoms of breathing difficulties, dehydration, prolonged fevers or other symptoms that you are worried about than call our office to have them evaluated.
Serologic assays for SARS-CoV-2, now broadly available, can play an important role in understanding the transmission dynamic of the virus in the general population and identifying groups at higher risk for infection. Unlike viral direct detection methods, such as nucleic acid amplification or antigen detection tests that can detect acutely infected persons, antibody tests help determine whether the individual being tested was previously infected—even if that person never showed symptoms. These tests are not perfect. There can be both false negative tests (you test negative for the virus but you did in fact have it) and false positives (it shows you have had the virus but you actually did not). Additionally, even if you are positive for the antibody, we do not yet know if that means you cannot get the viral infection again! So please consider all of this when requesting this test for your child. In general, children do not like getting blood work taken and right now this test is not extremely useful. But if you think your child warrants testing give our office a call and we can set up a telemedicine visit to discuss it further!