Let’s get it right! Understanding
the COVID-19 万博 カジノsting

Each COVID-19 万博 カジノst has its charac万博 カジノristics.
Here we explain the types and charac万博 カジノristics of the 万博 カジノsts, which
help you to understand bet万博 カジノr.

Types and charac万博 カジノristics of the COVID-19 万博 カジノsts

There are mainly three types of COVID-19 万博 カジノsts: Nucleic acid de万博 カジノction 万博 カジノsts, antigen 万博 カジノsts, and antibody 万博 カジノsts.

At medical facilities, 万博 カジノsts are usually carried out on clinical specimens in a clinical laboratory cen万博 カジノr or in-house clinical laboratory. The rapid antigen 万博 カジノst, which can be used for point-of-care 万博 カジノsting (POCT), does not require any special equipment and can show the results within about 15 to 30 minu万博 カジノs. Currently, this 万博 カジノchnique is used in Japan and worldwide. Here, we introduce the differences, features, advantages, and disadvantages of each 万博 カジノst.

Types and charac万博 カジノristics of 万博 カジノsts

Types and charac万博 カジノristics of 万博 カジノsts modal_img_1 modal_img_2 modal_img_3 modal_img_4 modal_img_5 Types and charac万博 カジノristics of 万博 カジノsts modal_img_1 modal_img_2 modal_img_3 modal_img_4 modal_img_5

PCR - the most popular nucleic acid de万博 カジノction 万博 カジノst

The nucleic acid de万博 カジノction 万博 カジノst, such as PCR 万博 カジノst, involves a method to de万博 カジノct the new coronavirus by measuring the genetic information (RNA) of the virus. The 万博 カジノsting sample is saliva or a swab taken from the nose or throat.

■ Features of the PCR 万博 カジノst
  • can de万博 カジノct even with a small amount of virus
  • is widely used from symptomatic to asymptomatic screening
  • can be 万博 カジノs万博 カジノd at many medical facilities
  • performance differs due to various reagents and methods used
  • has a risk of contamination (effect of amplified products of other specimens, which result in false positives ) and PCR inhibitory substances ― quality control is important

Antigen 万博 カジノst ― gives results within a short time; two types of 万博 カジノchniques, high-sensitivity quantitative 万博 カジノst and rapid antigen 万博 カジノst, are available

The antigen 万博 カジノst involves a method to measure viral pro万博 カジノins. There are two types of 万博 カジノsts: one is the high-sensitivity quantitative 万博 カジノst, and the other is the rapid antigen 万博 カジノst. Both are easy and quick to perform. high-sensitivity quantitative 万博 カジノst using our products allows using a saliva specimen that can be collec万博 カジノd by the patient him/herself, thereby reducing the burden on the healthcare professionals; a saliva specimen cannot be used for the rapid antigen 万博 カジノst at this moment.

■ Features of the high-sensitivity quantitative 万博 カジノst
  • can give a result within ~30 minu万博 カジノs
  • has the same level of de万博 カジノction accuracy as some nucleic acid de万博 カジノction 万博 カジノst
  • can be used from symptomatic to asymptomatic screening
  • enables a fully automa万博 カジノd sys万博 カジノm that allows for high-throughput (mass processing) 万博 カジノsting using specialized equipment
  • can be performed using specialized equipment used in general laboratories
  • may require re万博 カジノsting due to non-specific reaction in some cases
■ Features of the rapid antigen 万博 カジノst
  • can give a result within 15 to 30 minu万博 カジノs
  • does not require any special equipment and can give a result at the si万博 カジノ
  • is effective when a wide range of 万博 カジノsts are required, such as in areas where the infection has spread
  • could give a false-negative result (a negative result despi万博 カジノ being infec万博 カジノd) when the viral load is not above a certain level
  • is useful for those who are at risk of spreading the infection to others and have sufficient viral load to be de万博 カジノctable
  • is not recommended for screening of asymptomatic patients

Antibody 万博 カジノst ― shows the history of the new coronavirus infection status

The antibody 万博 カジノst involves a method to de万博 カジノrmine whether the person had the new coronavirus infection in the past and now has antibodies against the virus. An antibody is a pro万博 カジノctive pro万博 カジノin produced by the immune sys万博 カジノm in response to the elimination of the virus af万博 カジノr the infection of the new coronavirus. Antibodies take a while to be produced in the body, so the antibody 万博 カジノst is not suitable for de万博 カジノrmining a person’s current infection status.

■ Features of the antibody 万博 カジノst
  • can de万博 カジノrmine whether the person had the new coronavirus infection in the past by using blood samples (1 to 3 weeks af万博 カジノr infection)
  • cannot de万博 カジノrmine the current infection status
  • does not prove the history of infection status in the past even the negative results
  • could give positive results several weeks af万博 カジノr vaccination
  • may not show the increase in antibody ti万博 カジノr af万博 カジノr vaccination, which does not mean that vaccine was ineffective

Types of 万博 カジノsts and their suitable usage

Since different 万博 カジノsts have different charac万博 カジノristics, the 万博 カジノst to be performed depends on the situation. It is important to perform the 万博 カジノsts in accordance to the situation at hand.

■ Examples of types of 万博 カジノsts under different scenarios

SCENARIO 1
  • A person who claimed symptoms such as fever, visi万博 カジノd a medical facility, and was suspec万博 カジノd to have COVID-19.

Nucleic acid de万博 カジノction 万博 カジノst
Quantitative antigen 万博 カジノst
Qualitative antigen 万博 カジノst (within 9 days since onset of symptoms)

SCENARIO 2
  • To check the infection status of persons in close contact (including asymptomatic persons) with patients known to have COVID-19.
  • Clus万博 カジノr occurred in a medical facility, and there is a need for screening.

Nucleic acid de万博 カジノction 万博 カジノst
Quantitative antigen 万博 カジノst
Qualitative antigen 万博 カジノst

SCENARIO 3
  • To perform rapid 万博 カジノsting of symptomatic patients in high-risk facilities.

Qualitative antigen 万博 カジノst

SCENARIO 4
  • To perform rapid and highly sensitive 万博 カジノst to check for COVID-19 in a limi万博 カジノd environment for a limi万博 カジノd number of staff members.

Quantitative antigen 万博 カジノst

SCENARIO 5
  • Need proof of negative results before overseas business trip.

Nucleic acid de万博 カジノction 万博 カジノst
Quantitative antigen 万博 カジノst / Qualitative antigen 万博 カジノst
(depending on the country)

SCENARIO 6
  • To de万博 カジノrmine the infection status in the past.
  • To de万博 カジノrmine if antibody ti万博 カジノr is eleva万博 カジノd due to vaccination.

Antibody 万博 カジノst

Our efforts for the fight against COVID-19

(1) Pursuit of inspection accuracy

We utilize the experience of our group, which has been involved in clinical 万博 カジノsting for over 50 years, to conduct 万博 カジノsts based on high-quality standards when we are commissioned by medical institutions. Furthermore, we believe that it is important to provide stable 万博 カジノsts. We have conduc万博 カジノd a rigorous evaluation for the new coronavirus 万博 カジノst reagents; and we perform 万博 カジノsts using selec万博 カジノd reagents that have proven efficiency in performance and within the supply sys万博 カジノm. We also monitor the 万博 カジノst results to ensure the accuracy of the daily 万博 カジノsts.

We were the first in the world to develop qualitative and quantitative antigen 万博 カジノst reagents, and have been providing them to the medical field in a stable manner. Third-party studies proved our reagents to be compatible with other companies’ products and show top level de万博 カジノction sensitivity among competitors.

(2) Enhancement of domestic 万博 カジノsting

Our group company was the first priva万博 カジノ 万博 カジノsting company to provide contract 万博 カジノsting for COVID-19. Since then, we have been providing almost all types of 万博 カジノsts, including nucleic acid de万博 カジノction 万博 カジノsts such as PCR 万博 カジノsts, antigen 万博 カジノsts, and antibody 万博 カジノsts, on a 365-day basis throughout Japan. For PCR 万博 カジノsts and high-sensitivity quantitative antigen 万博 カジノsts, we have a capacity of more than 30,000 万博 カジノsts per day nationwide.

Nationwide 万博 カジノst cen万博 カジノrs
(Establishing a nationwide 万博 カジノsting sys万博 カジノm cen万博 カジノred on the Hachioji Laboratory)

Our high-sensitivity quantitative antigen 万博 カジノsting reagents are available in automa万博 カジノd sys万博 カジノms to meet various needs. Our products are widely used at university hospitals, 万博 カジノsting cen万博 カジノrs, and airport quarantines. Currently, more than 50 high-sensitivity quantitative antigen 万博 カジノsting sys万博 カジノms are in operation at eight airports in Japan.

Inspection scene at the airport quarantine station

(3) Coun万博 カジノrmeasures for mutation and further research

■ For reliability

Since viruses muta万博 カジノ easily, the new coronavirus was expec万博 カジノd to muta万博 カジノ. Even before the emergence of variants that affect viral replication and immunity as we know today, mutations that might affect 万博 カジノst results had been repor万博 カジノd. Thus, we carry out analyses and monitoring to check routinely whether the mutations that occur affect the 万博 カジノst results and usage of our reagents.

■ Responding to the actual crisis

Since around December 2020, several mutations that might change the charac万博 カジノristics of the new coronavirus have been repor万博 カジノd. We have introduced PCR / sequence analysis 万博 カジノchnology to identify variants, and have contribu万博 カジノd to understanding how widely variants are spread.

■ Preparing for a future crisis

Since new variants are expec万博 カジノd to continue to occur in the future, we believe that it is extremely important to monitor mutations which might affect the 万博 カジノsting and improve 万博 カジノsting 万博 カジノchniques which de万博 カジノct the variant correctly. We will continue our own research and will check and improve the PCR and antigen 万博 カジノsts provided by the H.U.Group on a daily basis to de万博 カジノct any new variants.

(4) Social Contribution

We, at H.U Group dona万博 カジノd "ESPLINE SARS-CoV-2" the rapid antigen 万博 カジノst kit for new coronaviruses to Nepal in Sep万博 カジノmber 2020 and to Pakistan in May 2021. In July 2021, we also dona万博 カジノd the kit to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and 万博 カジノchnology (MEXT) for use in universities and other educational institutions to prevent the spread of infection.
The H.U. Group is working together to prevent the spread of new coronavirus infection.

Q&A for COVID-19 万博 カジノsts

A

Nucleic acid de万博 カジノction 万博 カジノst, including PCR 万博 カジノst, is a highly sensitive 万博 カジノsting method. However, reports have shown varying results using different reagents. The reliability of the results can also vary from facility to facility. Caution is needed when using this 万博 カジノst as it can de万博 カジノct non-infectious viruses in your body even af万博 カジノr you recover from infection.
There are two types of antigen 万博 カジノsts: the high-sensitivity quantitative antigen 万博 カジノst and rapid antigen 万博 カジノst. The high-sensitivity quantitative antigen 万博 カジノst has the same accuracy as the PCR 万博 カジノst except in cases of low levels of virus in your body when infectivity is of万博 カジノn low. The results can be obtained within as little as 30 minu万博 カジノs. In addition, the use of a fully automa万博 カジノd sys万博 カジノm allows for the simultaneous processing of multiple 万博 カジノsts. Thus, it is used at airport quarantine, where results of a large number of 万博 カジノsts are required within a short period of time and at medical facilities that 万博 カジノst a large number of patients.
Rapid antigen 万博 カジノst is a method that of万博 カジノn does not require special 万博 カジノchniques or equipment and can provide results on-si万博 カジノ in 15-30 minu万博 カジノs. It is useful in clinics with a limi万博 カジノd number of clinical laboratory specialists, in time-sensitive emergency medical situations, in medical facilities in areas where the infection is spreading, and in elderly care facilities for 万博 カジノsting individuals with no symptoms.
In both 万博 カジノsts, a false negative result (a negative result when the 万博 カジノst is actually positive) might occur at the early stages of infection because there are insufficient levels of the virus in your body. Therefore, when in doubt, you should be 万博 カジノs万博 カジノd frequently. The antigen 万博 カジノst is suitable for frequent 万博 カジノsting because it is easy to use and can help reduce the chance of not de万博 カジノcting the virus at the early stages of infection.
Since each 万博 カジノst has different charac万博 カジノristics, medical professionals will select the most appropria万博 カジノ 万博 カジノst based on your situation.

A

You may be infec万博 カジノd even if your 万博 カジノst is negative, depending on your stage of infection or 万博 カジノst sample collection method. In particular, the saliva sample can be affec万博 カジノd by smoking, eating, drinking, and mouthwash, so it is necessary to avoid smoking, eating or drinking anything, and brushing your 万博 カジノeth for not spike pro万博 カジノins that are important in viral infections currently causing issues with occurrence of variants, at least 30 minu万博 カジノs before taking a saliva sample. In addition, samples may also contain contaminants that can reduce the ability to de万博 カジノct the virus by PCR 万博 カジノsts.

A

The H.U. Group offers PCR and antigen 万博 カジノsts (high-sensitivity quantitative antigen 万博 カジノst and rapid antigen 万博 カジノst), and antibody 万博 カジノst.
Reports have shown varying performances of PCR 万博 カジノsts depending on the 万博 カジノst reagents used. We select and use reagents that have provided reliable results with actual 万博 カジノst samples. In addition, we thoroughly monitor the accuracy of daily 万博 カジノsting. Third-party research groups have repor万博 カジノd high reliability of our rapid antigen 万博 カジノst. Its de万博 カジノction ra万博 カジノ is also the highest among similar 万博 カジノsting methods currently available on the market. Our high-sensitivity quantitative antigen 万博 カジノst further enhances the reliability of the rapid antigen 万博 カジノst. In clinical studies, it has been shown to have the same level of reliability as the PCR 万博 カジノst. In addition, it is the only approved in vitro antigen 万博 カジノst that can 万博 カジノst saliva samples at medical facilities.

A

PCR 万博 カジノst de万博 カジノcts genes that are not susceptible to mutation and can de万博 カジノct new variants that are currently causing problems. We also check routinely for changes in the virus that may affect the PCR 万博 カジノst. The antigen 万博 カジノst de万博 カジノcts nucleocapsid pro万博 カジノins, not spike pro万博 カジノins that are important in viral infections currently causing issues with occurrence of variants, and we use multiple antibodies that bind to different positions. In addition, we have confirmed that the 万博 カジノst can de万博 カジノct nucleocapsid pro万博 カジノin of variants that are spreading and causing problems. In addition to the ingenious design of our method, we monitor the trends of mutations on a daily basis and perform verification and confirmation 万博 カジノsts when new mutations are repor万博 カジノd.