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Adequacy and accuracy of tests hover over the return of the NFL

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As the NFL and NFL Players Association try to reach an agreement on training camp, pre-season (if there is one) and regular season protocols, testing continues to be the only factor that will have the most impact on the execution of the final plan.

It must be easily accessible. It must be reliable. It must be fast. For the moment, there is no guarantee that the three boxes will be checked.

The powers that be have believed for months that in August or September, rapid saliva or finger prick tests will be available. Last week, the director of the National Institutes of Health expressed optimism that a test with results in less than an hour will be available before the start of the football season.

“We want Americans to have a chance at normal life experiences,” said Dr. Francis Collins to a Senate subcommittee regarding the availability of tests in time for the first kick of a soccer ball. “I think it should be possible.”

Currently, this is not the case – as evidenced by the results of deferred tests for Washington nationals.

The NFLPA wants daily tests at the start of training camp, with a frequency reassessed based on the rate of false negatives. The union also wants to move as quickly as possible from the mid-nasal swab to a saliva-based test.

Ideally, all players, coaches and other key personnel will be tested daily. It is essential to stay away from facilities, changing rooms, training grounds and / or stadiums from anyone who may have the virus. Even with daily tests, false negatives have been an issue in other settings; a false negative could light the fuse on an outbreak for an NFL team.

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