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Jan 18 2022
Read this before buying those rapid antigen tests

Now it’s 2022, and we’re in the midst of yet another COVID epidemic. However, there is some good news: fast at-home COVID RAT tests have proven an extremely useful tool for identifying and tracking new cases (at least while they are available). The CDC’s most current self-testing recommendations, revised in December, include doing at-home rapid antigen tests prior to indoor meetings with individuals who are not members of your family.

While fast testing was previously few and/or costly, they have become widespread in Omicron — which means you may have some concerns. Which should you purchase? When should you do a test? And just how precise are they? We chatted with Adam J. Ratner, a pediatric infectious-disease expert at NYU Langone, to get answers to these and other issues.

What information should you gather before purchasing an at-home test?

At-home rapid antigen tests, also called antigen tests, are a convenient and quick approach to determine whether you are infectious with COVID-19, since they eliminate the need to visit a rapid antigen tests location or wait overnight for findings. They typically include the use of nose or saliva swabs and provide findings in approximately 15 minutes.

At-home rapid antigen tests are available at pharmacies and online. Ascertain that the test you are purchasing has been authorized by the FDA: Currently, the FDA authorizes just 14 rapid antigen tests, which are all mentioned on the FDA website. Ratner suggests that if you purchase rapid antigen tests online, you double-check that they are permitted (and have not been recalled). learn more about atigen diagnostic test by clicking here

Is the cost of the test covered by my insurance?

The United States has fallen behind other nations in terms of rapid antigen tests. Even today, quick testing may be difficult to get in certain areas and are sometimes prohibitively costly. Rapid antigen tests kits cost between $10 and $15 or more in the United States, much more than in Germany, where they cost $1 each in grocery shops, or the United Kingdom, where the first 14 rapid antigen tests are free.

With the growth of Omicron, the Biden administration announced intentions to expand access to at-home testing, including mandating private insurance to pay eight rapid antigen tests per month for people beginning January 15, but the specifics are rather difficult. Under Biden’s idea, insured Americans would be able to get rapid antigen tests at their health plan’s “preferred” pharmacies without incurring any out-of-pocket fees. 

At out-of-network pharmacies, you must pay the full cost and then submit a claim for reimbursement, with your insurance covering just $12 per test. Critics have noted that the proposal does not outline the reimbursement mechanism, leaving leeway for businesses to make it logistically difficult, nor does it provide a timeframe for firms to pay payments.

Additionally, the government committed to making 500 million free rapid antigen tests available for ordering, but it is unclear when that plan would take effect.

How accurate are self-administered rapid antigen tests?

Rapid at-home tests are not as sensitive as PCR rapid antigen tests and so cannot be used in place of them. However, Ratner maintains that they are still effective as a pre-gathering screener since they are adept at detecting individuals who have just enough virus in their upper airways to be infectious. “You could miss someone, but you’re almost certain to capture everyone who is infectious,” Ratner explains. “While this is not a flawless method, it is a sound one.”

When it comes to COVID-19 rapid antigen tests, Ratner notes that PCR rapid antigen tests remain the “gold standard.” They are far more sensitive than antigen tests, and they may detect “minor quantities of RNA” from the virus long before there are sufficient traces for a person to be infectious. While PCR rapid antigen tests are beneficial for detecting individuals who may have been exposed, they may take up to three days to complete, making them ineffective for screening large populations of people fast. (Rapid antigen tests, such as nucleic acid amplification rapid antigen tests, or NAATs, are available, but they are typically more costly and scarce.)

Essentially, when using fast testing, it’s important to bear in mind that a negative result does not always mean you don’t have COVID, since it may be too early for the antigen test to detect it. As a consequence, if you have cause to think you have COVID — such as a known exposure or symptoms – Ratner advocates remaining at home (and maybe quarantining) even if your test results are negative. Additionally, you should schedule a PCR test within the following two days.

However, for those who are unaware of having been exposed, do not exhibit symptoms, and have a low risk of developing COVID, rapid antigen tests are excellent screeners. After all, “if you discover someone who is optimistic,” Ratner argues, “you have maybe prevented a calamity.”

When should at-home testing be used?

The CDC suggests self-testing if you are experiencing symptoms or have been in contact with someone who may have COVID-19. Additionally, it recommends using them before convening inside with others who are not members of your family, particularly if those people are at a greater risk of contracting COVID-19. Ratner also suggests rapid antigen tests before too and after gatherings, travel, and any other time you believe it may be required, such as when visiting areas where unvaccinated persons and children may be present.

Additionally, you may want to test many times. For instance, if you’re organizing a party, Ratner recommends that everyone does an at-home test the morning of and immediately before the event. “If you test positive suddenly, you should return home,” Ratner advises. Which is clearly not enjoyable, “but it is the only way we can keep people safe.” Ratner also advocates rapid antigen tests before vacation, “with the intention of delaying travel if the test is positive,” and upon return, prior to returning to work.

What other information should we have about them?

While rapid antigen tests are one precaution we should take to ensure our safety, Ratner notes that it should not be used in place of other protections, like immunizations. “Everyone who is vaccine-eligible should be inoculated,” he advises. Ratner also recommends booster injections, if possible: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now advises that everyone above the age of 12 obtain a booster. As cases grow and Omicron spreads throughout the United States, Ratner proposes that people consider having fewer people at gatherings, engaging in outdoor activities, and congregating in less crowded, well-ventilated areas. The fewer unvaccinated attendees at your events, the safer they will be, Ratner explains.

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Jan 18 2022
Things you should know about rapid antigens tests

Rapid antigen tests are now available in supermarkets and pharmacies for self-testing for COVID-19 in around 15 minutes.

You’ll receive your findings considerably more quickly than with traditional PCR testing, which most of us are familiar with.

Here are some tips for getting the most out of these rapid antigen tests and increasing your chances of receiving a significant result.

How is a rapids antigen tests performed?

Rapid antigen tests detects SARS-CoV-2 proteins in a sample. SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19. At home, you can collect the sample using a nose swab or saliva.

The test with which most of us are familiar – the polymerase chain reaction, or PCR test – is not the same. It is capable of detecting genetic material from viruses. Experienced health workers collect PCR samples, which are then processed in the laboratory by trained technicians.

Rapid antigen tests may be performed anywhere and by anybody who is relatively skilled. A result is available in around 15 minutes, depending on the test, compared to hours to days for a PCR result, but before you buy your rapid antigen test kit read https://drnleonemdpc.com/read-this-before-buying-those-rapid-antigen-tests/

Rapid antigen tests, on the other hand, are not as reliable as PCR rapid antigen tests. You are more likely to have false negatives (the test suggests that you do not have COVID-19 when you actually do) or false positives (the test says that you do have it when you actually do not).

Rapid antigen tests, on the other hand, are more accurate if performed while experiencing symptoms or within seven days after a probable exposure.

Why would you want to use one?

Rapid antigen tests are advantageous if you wish to determine fast if you have COVID-19. For instance, you may be planning a family reunion with a large number of fragile, elderly relatives and wish to keep them secure.

You may also utilize a fast antigen test if you have COVID-19 symptoms and are unable to obtain a PCR test promptly.

Which test should be used?

Rapid antigen tests sold in Australia must be licensed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), which maintains a list of tests permitted for use at home on its website.

They are broadly classified into two categories. They examine nasal secretions (swabbed using a nasal swab) or saliva (from spitting into a tube or swabbing inside the mouth).

Each authorized test is classified as having “acceptable sensitivity,” “high sensitivity,” or “extremely high sensitivity” by the TGA. Learn more about TGA at https://www.tga.gov.au/

Those with “very high sensitivity” are more likely to discover a real SARS-CoV-2 infection and will employ nasal swabs.

How do you conduct the examination?

Instructions are included with the rapid antigen tests (and a QR code linking to a video). To obtain an exact result, you must strictly adhere to the directions.

You will take a sample of nasal secretions or saliva, depending on the test type, and pour it into a chemical solution.

Then, similar to a pregnancy test, you place the chemical solution containing your sample onto an indication gadget. This indicates a favorable outcome via a perceptible shift in color.

Seven pointers for obtaining an exact result

These suggestions are based on an analysis of instructions on the TGA website about the proper use of authorized rapid antigen tests. Consider the following:

  1. Verify the expiration date. Do not utilize an expired test.
  2. Certain tests must be brought to room temperature for 30 minutes prior to use. Therefore, plan ahead.
  3. If you’re using a nasal swab, blow your nose-first. If utilizing a saliva test, wait 10 minutes before eating or drinking.
  4. Take care not to contaminate the sample. Regardless of the test, you may be instructed to clean a level surface; wash or sanitize and dry your hands, and arrange the test materials. Never, ever touch the swab’s business end (the soft end that goes into your nose), since this will contaminate it.
  5. Adhere to the sample collection instructions to the letter. For instance, while using a nasal swab, you will be instructed to enter the swab 2cm into the nose, spin it five times, and repeat in both nostrils. After collecting the sample, it is immersed in the chemical solution.
  6. Using the indication device, place a predetermined number of drops of the solution. Add nothing more “for good fortune”.
  7. Review the findings at the specified time. For instance, the instructions may state that you should read the result no sooner than 15 minutes after adding the solution and no later than 20 minutes after adding the solution. After twenty minutes, the outcome may become inaccurate.

What do the various colored lines indicate?

There are two distinct colored lines to locate. The first is a C. (the control). This indicates whether the test is functioning properly. The other is a T (test) or an Ag (aggravation) (antigen). And it is the sum of these that produces the following:

  • the test is faulty if the C-colored line does not appear. The test kit may have expired or you may not have performed the test properly.
  • if the Cline is visible but the T (or Ag) line is not, your result is negative (you are unlikely to have COVID-19).
  • if both the C and T (or Ag) lines are visible, your result is positive (you are most likely positive for COVID-19).

Stock and Insurance Coverage Volatility

Nowadays, obtaining a fast at-home Covid test is not as straightforward as stepping into a pharmacy or clicking Add to Cart. Because inventory is always changing, you’ll need to check online or in real retail locations on a frequent basis. We recommend contacting your neighborhood drugstores and pharmacies to confirm availability.

To meet rising demand, shops are limiting the number of rapid antigen tests available to each client. Walgreens will limit consumers to four tests per transaction, both in-store and online; Walmart will limit customers to eight tests per buy when making an online purchase (there is no limit in-store). At CVS, you may purchase a maximum of six tests at a time.

Costs associated with at-home kits might easily mount up. The Biden administration recently announced intentions to distribute 500 million free Covid rapid at-home test kits across the United States, however, this initiative will not begin until January. Your only choice is to pay for over-the-counter fast kits out of pocket. At the moment, insurance will pay kits only if they are obtained through your medical practitioner and are based on your symptoms. 

However, we encourage you to save receipts in case your private health insurance provider reimburses you. Do you have a health savings account (HSA) or a flexible spending account (FSA)? You may utilize either to obtain rapid antigen tests.

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Things you shouldn’t dare to do after a cataract surgery
Dec 6 2021
Things you shouldn’t dare to do after a cataract surgery

Cataract surgery is a common treatment performed by the majority of surgeons. Because cataracts affect such a large number of individuals, they are frequently removed.

Indeed, cataract surgery is one of the most frequently done surgical operations in the United States! It has been established as a safe and successful method.

However, after you’ve had surgery, it’s critical to exercise caution during your recovery. If you do not allow your eyes to recover, you endanger your health. The following are seven things you should avoid doing following cataract surgery:

Drive

You should refrain from driving for at least 24 hours following cataract surgery. You may wish to wait even longer, as many individuals experience light sensitivity for many days following surgery. Take precautions and wait until you are confident that you can see the road well enough to drive!

Makeup

Makeup is bacteria-ridden! It’s completely harmless as long as you avoid sharing cosmetics, but your eyes are more susceptible to infection throughout the healing process.

Withhold cosmetics until your surgeon’s follow-up appointment and inquire when it is safe to resume use.

If you intend to wear makeup following cataract surgery, you need to get fresh cosmetics. This is especially true for eye cosmetics such as mascara, eye shadow, or eyeliners. If you’re wearing outdated makeup, they can easily carry bacteria into your eye.

Carry Out Any Extensive Activity

Until your surgeon indicates otherwise, limit yourself to light activities. Avoid vigorous activity such as heavy lifting, exercise, and other strenuous activities.

Exercise might exacerbate difficulties throughout the cataract surgery healing process. You’re more likely to get involved in an accident if you’re performing any physically demanding activity. Therefore, take a break for a time!

Visit Areas That Are Dusty

This is not the time to dust! For a while, you should avoid activities and locations where there is a lot of dust or dirt in the air. Click here to read about The right time to return to exercising after cataract surgery.

If you are unable to avoid dust entirely, wear protective glasses when in its vicinity. Goggles are preferable to glasses because they prevent foreign objects from entering in between the lenses.

Swim

You should avoid getting water in your eye entirely, therefore when showering, avoid aiming the showerhead directly at your face. Additionally, you should abstain from any pool or hot tub visits for two weeks after cataract surgery.

Even if you are not recovering from cataract surgery, chlorine can be harmful to your eye. Avoid entering a pool or hot tub, even if your head remains above water!

Outside, Forget To Wear Sunglasses

Sunglasses should always be worn outside, but they are especially more critical following cataract surgery. Protect your eyes from UV rays and avoid going out without a nice pair of sunglasses!

Consider Rubbing Your Eye

Never, ever rub your eye! While it may seem uncomfortable or irritated, touching it will aggravate it. Eye rubbing might result in significant consequences.

The majority of initial pain subsides within a day or two of operation. If you continue to feel discomfort, you can treat it with medications or eye drops. After a few days, if your suffering persists, contact your doctor.

Do not be concerned about your cataract surgery. Cataract operations are quick and painless. You’re in capable hands with the cataract doctors at Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania, and there are several things you can do to expedite your recovery on your own. Let’s take a look at the dos and don’ts following cataract surgery.

Cataract surgery typically takes roughly ten minutes to complete. Due to the fact that we only operate on one eye at a time, the process is rather rapid. We offer a recovery area where you will be able to relax for around 30 minutes following surgery, or longer if you are still sleepy from the anesthetic. You’ll need someone to drive you home.

While some individuals report having clear vision immediately following cataract surgery, your vision may be impaired for a while as your eye adjusts to the new lens implant we placed in your eye to replace your clouded natural lens.

The white portion of your eye may seem red due to burst blood vessels; this is perfectly normal and often heals within a few days. Additionally, you may have some bruising behind your eye that mimics a black eye; this is typical and will dissipate within a few days.

What to Do and What Not to Do

One of the most prevalent side effects of cataract surgery is a dry eye sensation. The eye may seem nearly irritated as if it needs to be scratched, but avoid the impulse to massage it. Rubbing might cause the new lens to get dislodged. Each day, the itching sensation subsides as your eye recovers. If you already suffered from dry eye, the disease may become more severe shortly following surgery.

Don’t forget to take the drugs we recommend. We will send you home with both antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops. You will need to administer the drops multiple times daily for the first week following surgery. Make sure you never skip a dosage and take them precisely as instructed.

It Is Time to Heal

One of our most serious issues is patients who overdo it and attempt to accomplish too much too quickly. While you may feel fantastic following surgery, you must gradually return to your usual daily routine.

Avoid leaning over immediately following cataract surgery, since this places additional pressure on your eye. Avoid sneezing for the same reasons. Avoid driving the day after surgery. For the first several weeks following surgery, we do not want you to engage in intense activity or heavy lifting.

While your eye recovers, you should avoid swimming pools and hot tubs for at least the first week. Additionally, avoid dust and pollen-filled locations for a few weeks to avoid getting these irritants in your eye.

While the list above contains several do’s and don’ts, there are a few things you may do in the hours following surgery, such as shower or bath, light computer work, or watching a little television.

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The right time to return to exercising after a cataract surgery
Dec 6 2021
The right time to return to exercising after a cataract surgery

Cataract surgery is often associated with minimal discomfort that lasts only a few days. This might make it all too tempting to resume your previous level of exercise. It is critical to wait at least one week before engaging in vigorous activities, such as carrying large objects or exercising.

Keep your head above your body and avoid lifting anything more than 5 to 10 pounds. For at least a couple of weeks, avoid swimming and hot tubs.

Typically, your eye doctor will schedule a follow-up visit within a week of the cataract treatment. This is an excellent opportunity to discuss resuming routine activities. It is critical to follow all recovery instructions and suggestions given by your doctor.

Activity Resumption

After cataract surgery, you may be able to resume mild exercise within a few days to a week. Within a day or two following cataract surgery, light walking, stretching, and activities that do not require lowering your head to your body, bending at the waist, hard lifting, or high intensity are typically okay.

You may still need to ease back into activities for a few weeks. For best recovery time, strenuous lifting and swimming may need to be delayed for at least a month following surgery. If your doctor allows, you should be able to resume most types of strenuous activity within a few weeks following cataract surgery.

After cataract surgery, your eyes will require at least two months to recuperate fully. Your physician may suggest a particular regimen for reintroducing exercise into your lifestyle.

Why Should You Wait?

Cataract surgery is a very safe and common surgical technique with a high percentage of success. You will have the highest chance of success if you adhere strictly to your recovery and follow-up plan. As with any medical operation, you must give time for your eyes and body to recover and take precautions to avoid infection. Visit http://drnleonemdpc.com/things-you-shouldnt-dare-to-do-after-a-cataract-surgery/ to read about things you shouldn’t dare to do after cataract surgery.

There are numerous compelling reasons to delay exercising following cataract surgery.

  • For the first several days, your vision will be fuzzy. This increases the likelihood of being harmed, colliding with something, misjudging distance, and dropping items. You will need to use caution and move slowly for the first several days following surgery. Additionally, you will be unable to drive during the first few days.
  • Avoid rinsing your eyes with dust or debris following cataract surgery to reduce the risk of infection. Additionally, your physician may request that you wear an eye cover for the first day or two following surgery to keep the surgical site clean and protected. Exercise has the potential to stir up dirt and dust. This increases the likelihood that something may enter the eye and cause infection before the incision has a chance to heal completely.
  • Bending down, lifting objects, and straining can result in an increase in pressure in the head and eyes, which can result in post-operative problems. Allowing your body and eyes to recover properly following cataract surgery reduces the chance of unfavorable responses such as retinal detachment, fluid accumulation in the eye, corneal edema, increased eye pressure, or lens displacement. It is best to avoid them until your eyes are mostly recovered. It may be prudent to delay swimming or exposure to these bodies of water for a few weeks to a month to reduce your risk of illness.

According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), complications following cataract surgery are uncommon, although infection, hemorrhage, inflammation, edema, and probable visual impairment are all conceivable.

Allowing your eyes and body adequate time to recover, attending follow-up appointments, and listening to your eye doctor on when you may resume normal levels of activity and exercise will help decrease the risk of a bad reaction or problem.

Abstain from vigorous activities

If you want to recuperate after cataract surgery as quickly as possible, you must avoid heavy activity. What is tough for one individual may not be so for another, correct? To be as safe as possible, limit yourself to light cardiovascular workouts such as walking or elliptical training.

Treadmill jogging

The good news is that you can participate in these activities throughout your first week of rehabilitation. After the first week, you can begin incorporating more rigorous workouts, provided that your eye doctor has approved you.

Swimming should be avoided for at least a month following cataract surgery.

Little you will be able to resume most of your usual routine while you recuperate after cataract surgery, one thing you will need to avoid for a while longer is water. If you like swimming, you should refrain from doing so for at least a month following cataract surgery.

This covers all bodies of water, such as the ocean, rivers, streams, and lakes, as well as hot tubs and swimming pools! Bacteria flourish in natural bodies of water. If germs enter your eye while it is healing, they may create an infection, as your eye is more susceptible than usual following a treatment such as a cataract surgery. You’ll want to avoid hot tubs and pools due to the chlorine, which not only burns but also has the potential to inflict major harm to your eye while it heals.

Your eye doctor will advise you when it is safe to return to the pool and swim again!

What if both of my eyes develop cataracts?

If you have cataracts in both eyes, the procedure is quite identical to what has been detailed previously. The only distinction is that you will need to adhere to your eye surgeon’s recuperation instructions twice.

While you may believe it makes sense to have both cataracts removed concurrently, this is not the safest course of action. If both were removed simultaneously, it would be nearly hard to see.

Rather than that, when patients have cataracts in both eyes, the cataract causing the most visual loss is often removed first. The majority of cataract surgeons will wait around two months between removing the first and second cataracts. This is to guarantee that you have adequate time to recuperate between surgeries and that you already have one eye with normal vision.

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Let Us Help You See The World Again
Apr 13 2018
Let Us Help You See The World Again At Its Fullest Potential

Have your days been interrupted by headaches that you can’t seem to quit getting? If so, it may be due to your eyes needing a new prescription. It’s easy to forget how much we depend on our vision. If the signs on the road have become unclear, or the writing on a whiteboard at the front of a classroom starts to look like unintentional hieroglyphics, it’s time to see the eye doctor. At Nicholas Leone, M.D., P.C., we make your vision our mission. Call us today to schedule a visit.

See Clearer

Whether you are nearsighted or farsighted, our professionals are prepared to help you see clearer than you ever have. You will walk into your first appointment with blurry sight, but when you pick up your new prescription, you will notice details and shadows that you’ve never seen. Let Nicholas Leone, M.D., P.C. help you see the clear, wonderful world that Louis Armstrong sings about. Reach out to us today. Our staff is ready to help you.

Feel Better

If you are a student, a full-time employee staring at a computer, or a hobbyist, straining your eyes can lead to unpleasant feelings like headaches and eye soreness. It can be easy to get used to the symptoms and ignore them, but it’s more important for you to come to get an eye checkup at the first sign of something being off. There is a chance that it could be something more serious that is easier to catch at the beginning. We can help.

We Will Help You Focus

Blurry vision can make reading, computer work, or detailed crafting very difficult. If you find it difficult to focus on the important elements in your life, come in for an eye examination. We will help you gain your focus back and we ensure that you will feel better about your projects. Let us help. Call us today and we will get you on the road to a clearer vision and happier life.

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