Is there a Delta Variant Covid test?

[Magna]

I'm having trouble locating information on which test is used to confirm the Delta Variant Covid vs confirming the "regular" Covid virus. How do medical professionals confirm that someone has the Delta Variant vs having "regular" Covid?

 

[Loren]

From what I've read, they use genomic sequencing to detect variants. I'm sure the experts, here, will be able to provide a more thorough answer, though.

 

[LadyS]

They have to do a special test, genome sequencing in order to determine that, which can take days or weeks. So right now health officials are assuming that most cases right now are variants which is proving to be more aggressive than the previous variant.

 

[Martha Ferris]

"How Is the COVID-19 Delta Variant Diagnosed?


All variants of COVID-19 are diagnosed with a medical history which includes any recent known exposure to COVID-19, and a physical exam to check for symptoms of COVID-19.

If COVID-19 is suspected tests used to diagnose the virus include:

• PCR tests (genetic or molecular test)
• Results can take hours to up to one week
• More accurate than an antigen test
• Antigen test
• Results are available in less than one hour
• Less accurate than a PCR test

An antibody test may be used to determine if a person had a past COVID-19 infection, but it is not used to diagnose current infections because it takes up to 3 weeks following infection for the body to produce antibodies to the virus.

Regular COVID tests do not test for variants. Testing for variants requires genomic sequencing, which not all labs can do and it can be expensive. State health departments may run tests to help determine prevalence of a particular variant in that state, but it is unlikely individual patients would learn which variant they are infected with." COVID-19 Delta Variant: Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment (emedicinehealth.com)

 

[Magna]

Regular COVID tests do not test for variants. Testing for variants requires genomic sequencing, which not all labs can do and it can be expensive. State health departments may run tests to help determine prevalence of a particular variant in that state, but it is unlikely individual patients would learn which variant they are infected with." COVID-19 Delta Variant: Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment (emedicinehealth.com)

So other than assuming that anyone infected with Covid presently probably has the Delta Variant, it seems that confirming Delta Variants for each new infection isn't happening.

 

[Mary Terry]

"How Is the COVID-19 Delta Variant Diagnosed?


All variants of COVID-19 are diagnosed with a medical history which includes any recent known exposure to COVID-19, and a physical exam to check for symptoms of COVID-19.

If COVID-19 is suspected tests used to diagnose the virus include:

• PCR tests (genetic or molecular test)
• Results can take hours to up to one week
• More accurate than an antigen test
• Antigen test
• Results are available in less than one hour
• Less accurate than a PCR test

An antibody test may be used to determine if a person had a past COVID-19 infection, but it is not used to diagnose current infections because it takes up to 3 weeks following infection for the body to produce antibodies to the virus.

Regular COVID tests do not test for variants. Testing for variants requires genomic sequencing, which not all labs can do and it can be expensive. State health departments may run tests to help determine prevalence of a particular variant in that state, but it is unlikely individual patients would learn which variant they are infected with." COVID-19 Delta Variant: Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment (emedicinehealth.com)

Happy birthday, Martha!

 

[Martha Ferris]

Happy birthday, Martha!

Thank you!

 

[Martha Ferris]

So other than assuming that anyone infected with Covid presently probably has the Delta Variant, it seems that confirming Delta Variants for each new infection isn't happening.

That is correct. They are going by symptoms however. The Delta variant appears to have some different symptoms than the original virus.

 

[Magna]

That is correct. They are going by symptoms however. The Delta variant appears to have some different symptoms than the original virus.

What are the different symptoms?

 

[Yeshuasdaughter]

Take the covid test with a grain of salt. They're not entirely accurate. They've been known to register the common cold or influenza as a positive covid test.

Also, there is a trend right now for people to buy the covid tests at the supermarket and rub a piece of fruit into them. Often time that strawberry, cherry, or tomato juice shows up as a positive covid test.

It's a new science, and it's very flawed.

 

[Judge]

Take the covid test with a grain of salt. They're not entirely accurate. They've been known to register the common cold or influenza as a positive covid test.

Also, there is a trend right now for people to buy the covid tests at the supermarket and rub a piece of fruit into them. Often time that strawberry, cherry, or tomato juice shows up as a positive covid test.

It's a new science, and it's very flawed.

It's been a real problem here in Nevada with high temps and outdoor receptacles to place test results in.

 

[Rasputin]

I'm having trouble locating information on which test is used to confirm the Delta Variant Covid vs confirming the "regular" Covid virus. How do medical professionals confirm that someone has the Delta Variant vs having "regular" Covid?

I don’t know about a Delta specific test, but I can tell you that I tested positive for COVID-19 three days ago, and I have the Delta variant based upon symptoms. The Delta variant is running rampant where I am at, and it does not care if you were vaccinated or not. That is why it is so important that everyone were masks and practice social distancing. This only works if all parties are following public health guidelines. If this does not happen, I believe it will be very grim this Fall and Winter.

Because I was vaccinated, I am getting better now. However, I am in isolation until August 20th.Three other family members who attended a family function with me also have the Delta variant, and we all received the Pfizer vaccine.

 

[Rasputin]

What are the different symptoms?

I started out feeling very tired and dozing off in the middle of the day, which I never do. Then I developed the worst sinus blockage I had ever had, unable to breathe through my nose. At the same time I have a constant dry hacking cough and sore throat. My eyes watered uncontrollably and I now have conjunctiva. Also, a lot of hard sneezing. I also had a high fever and felt like I was freezing. Yesterday I sat on my patio for 15 minutes and almost passed out due to heat and labored breathing. I am now slowly getting better and am taking a strong steroid drug to relieve symptoms. Thank God I had been vaccinated.

The original Covid-19 I think started with a lot more chest congestion and pneumonia, whereas the Delta variant can be mistaken for sinusitis or hay fever.

 

[Magna]

I started out feeling very tired and dozing off in the middle of the day, which I never do. Then I developed the worst sinus blockage I had ever had, unable to breathe through my nose. At the same time I have a constant dry hacking cough and sore throat. My eyes watered uncontrollably and I now have conjunctiva. I also had a high fever and felt like I was freezing. Yesterday I sat on my patio for 15 minutes and almost passed out due to heat and labored breathing. I am now slowly getting better and am taking a strong steroid drug to relieve symptoms. Thank God I had been vaccinated.

I hope you and your family feel better very soon.

Can anyone else speak to what exactly stated above varies from the symptoms of the original Covid virus?

 

[Au Naturel]

The CDC and other medical organizations do random sampling of COVID tests and then extrapolate the information to the general population. If they think that most new COVID infections are the Delta variant, that is very likely so. 80% is the current estimate. Epidemiology is as much statistical science as medical science.

The symptoms of Delta are similar but usually less deadly. That's balanced by being far more virulent. More people get sick but a lower percentage die and it balances out. Also, it is more likely to infect younger people.

The Delta variant grows more quickly in people, causing symptoms in as little as three days while the old COVID might take a week or even two for symptoms to show. It is two to three times easier to catch. People have many times more Delta COVID in their respiratory tracts and consequently shed many times the virus.

Vaccination and masking still help prevent infection but fast viral growth means that it may grow faster than your immune system can spool up. A lesser immune system, a weaker response to the vaccine, or exposure to high virus loads cause what are called "breakout" infections. No vaccine is perfect but it doesn't have to be perfect to be worthwhile.

Vaccination is known to reduce the severity of breakout infection. Almost everyone who is in the hospital for this one was not vaccinated.

 

[Martha Ferris]

What are the different symptoms?

Symptoms of the Delta Variant: COVID-19, Vaccine & Treatment (medicinenet.com)

 

[Magna]

Symptoms of the Delta Variant: COVID-19, Vaccine & Treatment (medicinenet.com)

That's good information.

I'm still waiting for definitive data on how long Covid19 viruses can exist on surfaces. It's been around long enough where this information should be common knowledge, but it's not for some reason.

 

[Martha Ferris]

That's good information.

I'm still waiting for definitive data on how long Covid19 viruses can exist on surfaces. It's been around long enough where this information should be common knowledge, but it's not for some reason.

This was updated in April of this year:
Science Brief: SARS-CoV-2 and Surface (Fomite) Transmission for Indoor Community Environments | CDC

 

[LadyS]

Vaccination is known to reduce the severity of breakout infection. Almost everyone who is in the hospital for this one was not vaccinated.

My cousin is currently working in the Covid ward in Galveston, couple weeks ago told me that it's worse than it was last year. Said more than 90% of the patients were unvaccinated. Another physician friend in San Antonio is experiencing staff shortage in her hospital and they've stopped all non-emergency surgeries in the meantime. Just yesterday the Governor announced that the hospitals were overloaded and call for out-of-state help. Before saying that the vaccine was optional, now urging it. I'm guessing more variants on the horizon but trying to stay hopeful.

 

[Magna]

My cousin is currently working in the Covid ward in Galveston, couple weeks ago told me that it's worse than it was last year. Said more than 90% of the patients were unvaccinated. Another physician friend in San Antonio is experiencing staff shortage in her hospital and they've stopped all non-emergency surgeries in the meantime. Just yesterday the Governor announced that the hospitals were overloaded and call for out-of-state help. Before saying that the vaccine was optional, now urging it. I'm guessing more variants on the horizon but trying to stay hopeful.

If the current mRNA-based vaccines in the U.S. are challenged in providing greater protections against emerging variants, it only makes sense to make a traditional-based non-mRNA vaccine available in the U.S. as well such as Valneva which is being rolled out in France apparently. It's supposed to maintain a high level of effectiveness against variants such as Delta.