New Covid test could help travel/cruise lines

[Jill]

Another tool that could help get cruises up and running. 
 

https://thepointsguy.com/news/fda-approves-covid-screening-device/?utm_term=Editorial&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=facebook&utm_content=AFDE7B16-8F22-11EB-A60F-02D7923C408C&fbclid=IwAR2skpM3__4r8_FYriGTmPqVW5Z8cC-ueazy7JI2-JsxaeakLn92GIPxL0c

 

[smokeybandit]

According to the FDA, "The Tiger Tech COVID Plus Monitor is not a diagnostic device and must not be used to diagnose or exclude SARS-CoV-2 infection."

 

It looks more like a contact tracing aid more than anything else.

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-first-machine-learning-based-screening-device-identify

[JeffB]

There are three categories of disease tracking in epidemiology: Surveillance, Screening and Diagnosis. All of these involve testing of some type, e.g a rapid antigen test is a screening measure, a PCR (Molecular tests) is a diagnostic measure. An example of a surveillance measure is pooled screening tests - surveilling a given population, say a college dormitory or a prison block, to determine how prevalent a disease is. 

The Tiger-tech product is a screening tool that uses other measures besides antibodies (rapid tests) or proteins (PCR) in oropharyngeal secretions to detect if a person has been infected with SARS2. What's unique about this is that it is simple to administer and avoids sticking things in your nose and throat. It uses AI to produce a probability based on serum biomarkers that the monitor detects via only skin contact that a tested person has COVID.

For the cruise lines, I see this as an evolving technology not ready for prime time. Corporate has expended a lot of time, energy and resources in getting to where they are now with rapid antigen and PCR testing. I think they'll stick with that for a while out of the gate. Maybe later.