Rising concerns over the accuracy of rapid antigen tests for COVID-19 have sparked across the nation as the mutation of new variants poses a threat to reopening and worker safety. These tests, known for their quick results, have been relied on heavily by asymptomatic workers across Canada. The possibility of inaccurate testing could trigger a new wave of infections.

A new study investigates the accuracy of rapid antigen tests on the incidence of false-positive results across 537 workplaces and over 90,000 test results. The study’s authors were Professor Ajay Agrawal, founder of the CDL and Geoffrey Taber Chair in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Rotman School; Professor Joshua Gans, Chief Economist of the CDL and Jeffrey S. Skoll Chair in Technical Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Rotman School; Professor Avi Goldfarb, Chief Data Scientist at the CDL and the Rotman Chair in Artificial Intelligence and Healthcare at the Rotman School; Sonia Sennik, executive director of CDL and CDL RSC; Professor Janice Stein, vice-president, strategy at CDL RSC and founding director of UofT’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy; and Professor Laura Rosella, vice president, health at CDL RSC and Canada Research Chair in Population Health Analytics at UofT’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health

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