Top Story: Are tests catching XXB.1.16?

The omicron variant XXB.1.16 has begun to take off in the United States, leaving researchers with questions if at home tests will be able to detect this strain. The strain accounts for 7.2 percent of U.S. cases, and is expected to increase in the following weeks. The strain appears to be causing conjunctivitis in children in India, where the variant is currently surging. 

Experts do not anticipate that the accuracy of at-home tests will be impacted, as the tests are designed to recognize the virus’ nucleocapsid sequence, rather than the spike protein. Amy Karger, MD, PhD, clinical pathologist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School told Becker’s Healthcare, "The majority of SARS-CoV-2 variant mutations occur in that spike protein and so thus far, the ability of at-home [tests] to detect the virus has not been affected, through many interactions of changing variants, because the nucleocapsid protein has not changed much as the virus has evolved.”

At-home COVID-19 antigen tests are expected to be around 80 percent effective, but it is recommended to take two tests to be safe, no matter the results or symptoms.

You can read more about XXB.16.1. and at-home tests here.