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Topic: rapid testsView all posts for the topic: rapid tests

Health Canada ignored warning signs before Ottawa spent billions on BTNX rapid tests

Published January 11, 2024

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Published by: Global News
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By Patti Sonntag

Health Canada ignored critical warnings about a rapid-test supplier before approving its COVID-19 kits for distribution nationwide, Global News has found.

A year-long Global News investigation into federal procurement revealed that BTNX, a Toronto-area rapid-test supplier that buys the devices from China, deleted dozens of specimens, or samples, from a study it submitted to Health Canada in October 2020. Deleting the specimens increased the estimate of the rapid test’s ability to detect the virus.

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Topic: British ColumbiaView all posts for the topic: British Columbia

Interior Health drops all COVID-19 rapid tests at facilities

Published January 9, 2024

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Published by: Global News
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Interior Health (IH) has completely withdrawn its COVID-19 rapid antigen tests (RAT) from its facilities.

This is according to an internal memo obtained by Global News.

“(The rapid tests) are not reliable for diagnosis of COVID-19,” the memo stated.

“As such COVID-19 RAT testing can no longer be used to direct clinical care or infection prevention and control measures, and must be discontinued immediately in Interior Health affiliated emergency rooms, hospitals, long-term care facilities (and) outpatient settings.”

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Topic: rapid testsView all posts for the topic: rapid tests

Rapid test supplier BTNX says Canadians can rely on its device’s accuracy

Published December 23, 2023

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Published by: Global News
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By Patti Sonntag

BTNX, the Canadian rapid test supplier that won an estimated $2 billion in federal contracts, denied that Health Canada used BTNX’s edited study to evaluate the rapid test kit that the federal government later purchased.

A year-long investigation into federal procurement published by Global News on Thursday revealed that Toronto area-based BTNX deleted dozens of specimens, or samples, from a study it submitted to Health Canada. That evaluation showed how well the company’s test detected COVID-19.

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COVID test supplier received billions in pandemic contracts after submitting edited resultsPhoto of two white COVID-19 rapid tests, and a green box with the text Rapid Response COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test Device
Topic: rapid testsView all posts for the topic: rapid tests

COVID test supplier received billions in pandemic contracts after submitting edited results

Published December 21, 2023

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Published by: Global News
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By Patti Sonntag

A rapid test importer landed an estimated $2 billion in federal contracts in 2021 and 2022, despite giving regulators incomplete data about its product’s accuracy, Global News has found.

A year-long investigation into federal procurement revealed that BTNX, a small rapid test supplier based outside Toronto, deleted dozens of specimens, or samples, from a study it submitted to Health Canada. That evaluation showed how well the company’s test detected COVID-19.

The deletions made BTNX’s test appear more reliable and sensitive than it really was, according to researchers Global News consulted.

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Topic: rapid testsView all posts for the topic: rapid tests

COVID-19 home testing as important as ever, infectious disease specialist says

Published December 11, 2023

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Published by: CBC News
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Almost four years into the pandemic many people have been taking a more carefree approach to COVID-19.

Dr. Lisa Barrett, an infectious diseases specialist and assistant professor at Dalhousie’s School of Medicine, says it’s important to still be vigilant.

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Topic: rapid testsView all posts for the topic: rapid tests

More free COVID-19 tests from the government are available for home delivery through the mail

Published November 20, 2023

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Published by: The Associated Press
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By Amanda Seitz

Americans can order more free COVID-19 tests online for home delivery.

The U.S. government is offering to send another round of four at-home virus tests ahead of the typical surge in cases during the winter holiday season.

Anyone who did not order a batch of four COVID-19 tests in September can secure up to eight of them this time around starting Monday at COVIDtests.gov. The U.S. Postal Service will deliver them for free.

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Topic: AlbertaView all posts for the topic: Alberta

Nearly 40 million rapid COVID tests unused in Alberta as expiry dates loom

Published November 6, 2023

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Published by: CBC News
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By Jennifer Lee

Alberta has close to 40 million COVID-19 rapid antigen tests in its stockpile and they’re all set to expire within a few months. Those that go unused will be trashed, the provincial government has confirmed.

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Topic: TorontoView all posts for the topic: Toronto

Where to get free COVID-19 rapid antigen tests in Toronto

Published October 24, 2023

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Published by: CTV News
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By Codi Wilson

Getting your hands on a COVID-19 rapid test is going to be a little more difficult this winter now that the tests are no longer being distributed to Ontario grocery stores and pharmacies.

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Topic: rapid testsView all posts for the topic: rapid tests

Where can I get a COVID-19 rapid test? CTV News looks at the rules in each province and territory

Published October 2, 2023

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Published by: CTV News
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By Michael Lee

Since provinces and territories are responsible for the distribution of rapid tests, their availability will ultimately depend on where you live.

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Topic: rapid testsView all posts for the topic: rapid tests

Difficile de trouver des tests rapides de dépistage de la COVID‑19

Published September 27, 2023

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Published by: Radio-Canada
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Doctors have noted that rapid tests for COVID-19 are less accessible in Canada, while the number of cases is increasing. They blame policy changes and inconsistent public health communication on access to rapid tests.

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Topic: rapid testsView all posts for the topic: rapid tests

US households will be able to order more free Covid‑19 tests starting Monday

Published September 20, 2023

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Published by: CNN
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By Jamie Gumbrecht

The US government will relaunch a program to provide free Covid-19 home tests to Americans, US Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday.

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Topic: rapid testsView all posts for the topic: rapid tests

What Canadians need to know about COVID rapid tests as fall approaches

Published September 8, 2023

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Published by: Global News
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By Katie Dangerfield

With the impending fall flu season and the continued circulation of new COVID-19 variants across the country, attention is once again turning to rapid antigen tests.

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Topic: rapid testsView all posts for the topic: rapid tests

Study: At-Home Rapid COVID Tests May Miss Many Infections

Published June 14, 2023

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Published by: Caltech
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By Emily Velasco

According to a new study, rapid antigen tests may provide false negatives — suggesting that a person is infection-free, even though other parts of their respiratory tract are teeming with the virus. The researchers found that most people showed a delay of several days between when the virus first appeared in the throat or saliva and when it appeared in the nose. Importantly, 15 of the 17 study participants had high levels of the virus for at least a day prior to getting a positive result.

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Topic: rapid testsView all posts for the topic: rapid tests

Ontario to stop free COVID-19 rapid test program in pharmacies, grocery stores

Published June 9, 2023

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Published by: CBC News / The Canadian Press
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By Allison Jones

An Ontario program that distributes free rapid tests for COVID-19 at grocery stores and pharmacies will end after this month.

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