Are We Missing Covid? Delayed Viral Loads Impact Testing

Wondering why you have symptoms but are still testing negative for COVID?

Today On Medical Grounds, we are speaking with Dr. Jennifer Frediani. Dr. Frediani is an assistant professor at the Nell Hodgson's Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. She is the lead author on a recent article published in Clinical Infectious Diseases entitled, “The New Normal: Delayed Peak SARS-CoV-2 Viral Loads Relative to Symptom Onset and Implications for COVID-19 Testing Programs.” Dr. Frediani is going to explain her findings and how the changes in COVID viral loads may be affecting home COVID tests. She will also tell us her ideas about what we can do to make sure we are testing the right way to catch positives.

(00:12) Introduction to Dr. Jennifer Frediani
(00:58) Dr. Frediani's study hypothesis
(01:48) Study testing
(03:08) Study population
(04:28) Study results
(05:28) Low viral loads and contagious period
(06:52) Do we need to change how we test at home?
(07:42) Expense of home tests
(08:58) Public education on viral delay and testing
(09:36) Is COVID the new normal?
(10:13) Can we handle the next pandemic?
(11:17) Lifestyle factors that affect infectious diseases

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