The league-generated memo on Friday to all teams regarding the changes to the coronavirus testing protocol contains a new development that could potentially go a long way in improving the testing process: NFL now uses ‘point-of-care’ testing with off – on-site test for COVID-19.
Point of service is the technical term for tests that can be performed without sending the sample to a laboratory. This is the key to speeding up the process and ultimately knowing with sufficient certainty that anyone who enters a team or stadium is negative on the spot, without waiting for a lab result.
PFT has learned that point-of-care testing is a new addition to the larger testing protocol. The point-of-care specific tests the NFL uses apparently have a much higher degree of accuracy than what the league thought they had just a week ago. Next, the league estimated that the point-of-care testing had an accuracy of between 80 and 85 percent. Now the league estimates (based on the provider’s representations) that it is 97% accurate.
It’s still not high enough for the league to use point-of-service testing itself, but it’s a sign that point-of-service testing is getting closer and closer to where it can supplant. the tedious process of collecting a sample and sending it off. for what is called PCR analysis, which has an accuracy rate closer to 99% or better.
Point of service testing will be the ultimate change for the league. While the accuracy rate can approach or equal the accuracy rate for offsite testing, teams can be more confident of knowing, at the time, whether a player, coach or key staff member is positive or negative for the virus. .
While this is a separate issue from keeping players, coaches and essential staff from catching the virus away from the facility, it is an important step in preventing anyone with it from spreading it once it is ‘he shows up for work.
This is, ultimately, a tangible sign of the technical advancements needed to increase the odds of playing 256 regular-season games and 13 postseason games without significant disruption by an outbreak. Which means that the arrival of point-of-care testing is very good news for the outlook for the 101st NFL season.
