Alberta's testing program for COVID-19 is a critical part of the province's pandemic response, helping to determine who has COVID-19 in order to track the virus and prevent its transmission.
Alberta Precision Laboratories (APL), Alberta's publicly funded lab service, leads the COVID-19 testing program. APL processes thousands of COVID-19 tests every day, and has completed more than six million tests since the pandemic began in early 2020.
Several different methods are used for testing Alberta's population for COVID-19, based on the evolving needs of public health officials and the development of new technology. APL's medical-scientific teams are constantly assessing and validating new diagnostic testing methods, in collaboration with other provincial and federal labs across the country, academic experts and private-sector partners.
The primary methods of COVID-19 testing in Alberta are:
Watch a 'behind the scenes' tour of the PCR testing process at APL's provincial lab.
Lab-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, which is used to determine if someone is currently infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. PCR testing is a highly sensitive molecular testing technique that is considered the gold standard for testing large populations and is used in testing programs around the world.
PCR testing is capable of detecting tiny amounts of the virus's genetic material if it is present in a sample. The main steps involved in PCR testing are:
Sample collection - Individuals who qualify for a COVID-19 test must visit a local assessment centre, where trained health care providers take samples with a swab inserted into a person's nose or throat. Swab samples are placed in a liquid media and are then transported to centralized lab facilities for testing.
Extraction process - Each swab sample is treated with chemicals (referred to as 'reagents') and placed in specialized equipment that is used to break down cellular material and viral coatings to expose the genetic material of any virus that is present in the sample. Extraction reagents contain specially engineered magnetic particles that bind to the small amount of ribonucleic acid (RNA) contained in each SARS-CoV-2 virus and separate them from the surrounding material. A significant portion of APL's extraction reagents are supplied by an Edmonton-based company that uses made-in-Alberta technology.
Amplification process - The extracted material is placed into a new tube with different reagents, and placed in a machine to undergo the PCR process. The PCR 'reaction' makes millions of copies of the virus's RNA. This process is repeated several times, allowing even a small amount of virus to be detected if it is present in a sample. A sample that is found to contain any genetic material of SARS-CoV-2 is considered positive, while a test where no genetic material is detected is considered negative.
Result notification - Each COVID-19 test result is entered into the lab computer system, and individuals are sent their test result via text message, automated phone call, and through the Alberta government's MyHealth Records online portal. Individuals typically receive their test result within 24-48 hours of having their swab sample collected. Results from tests conducted in emergency departments, urgent care and hospital facilities will be provided directly to patients by their physicians. You are recommended to isloate while awaiting test results, and if the test is positive.
Q: Can I test positive for COVID-19 if I just have the flu (influenza?)
A: No. The test for COVID-19 is specific to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and cannot be mistaken for the influenza virus. In addition, those receiving a COVID-19 test at AHS assessment centres are not being tested for influenza and would not be tested for it without their knowledge and consent.
Q: Does the COVID-19 test work on people with no symptoms?
A: Yes. PCR testing will detect very small quantities of the virus, if it is present in an individual's sample. Some people can be actively infected with COVID-19 and not show any symptoms of the disease.
Q: Is it possible to receive a false negative or false positive COVID-19 PCR test?
A: False negative and positive test results are possible but are extremely rare. False negatives can occur if swab samples are done incorrectly and don't pick up virus that can be detected. False positives can be the result of contamination of an individual's sample. If any questions are raised about a result potentially being a false positive or negative, we conduct a thorough investigation as part of our quality assurance process.
Q: How many cycles are used in the amplification process, and what is the cut-off threshold for determining a positive result?
A: The number of amplification cycles required to determine whether a COVID-19 sample is positive generally ranges from 15 to 35 cycles, but the threshold is dependent on many factors specific to each test platform, the equipment being used, as well as the quality of the samples being tested.
Q: How can I be tested for COVID-19 if I don't qualify for testing through the provincial testing program?
A: Publicly funded PCR testing is not available for individuals without symptoms who require proof of negative tests for the purposes of travel, entering public places, as a condition of employment, or for general screening purposes. Individuals who do not meet the criteria for public testing can access private testing through a variety of providers for a fee.
Learn more about the rapid point-of-care testing process.
Rapid point-of-care testing is an important pillar of Alberta's COVID-19 testing program, providing faster diagnosis of patients that helps reduce transmission of the virus in communities. Rapid point-of-care testing provides patients with results in a matter of hours instead of a day or two required for conventional lab testing. It is particularly useful for testing in rural, remote locations where it reduces the need to transport samples to centralized labs for analysis, as well as high-volume urban assessment centres.
Rapid point-of-care testing systems have been provided to Alberta by the Public Health Agency of Canada and are approved by Health Canada for use on patients who are within the first week of showing symptoms of COVID-19.
Rapid antigen tests looks for a protein from the virus that causes COVID-19, and are simple tests that do not require specialized equipment and can produce a result in as little as 15 minutes.
Rapid molecular tests use specialized equipment that is able to quickly detect the genetic material of the virus that causes COVID-19. Rapid molecular tests, that are currently used in Alberta and can only be conducted by trained professionals at AHS COVID-19 Assessment Centres.
Rapid point-of-care testing systems have also been deployed across the province at COVID-19 Assessment Centres, hospital labs, homeless shelters, and in mobile testing units that are visiting congregate living facilities, schools and worksites where outbreaks are suspected. Thousands of rapid tests are also being used for asymptomatic screening in all long-term care and supportive living facilities, as well as some correctional and congregate living facilities.
We continue to identify more sites and additional uses for rapid point-of-care testing across Alberta, as part of the overall pandemic response.
The Government of Alberta is providing free COVID-19 rapid antigen testing kits for at-home use. They are available, while supplies last, at select AHS sites and pharmacies across the province, as well as through some workplaces and schools. For more information, including instructions for performing the tests, visit the Alberta Health website.
Answers to common questions about At-Home Rapid Antigen Tests are available.
Employers and service providers wanting to offer rapid screening tests for their employees, contractors, or clients also have the opportunity to privately purchase tests or apply to Alberta Health to receive free rapid test kits for use in their organization. These tests must be completed in accordance with the Guidelines for Employer-initiated COVID-19 Testing.
Q: How quickly do patients receive their rapid test results?
A: Patients will receive their results by text message or phone call within 1 to 3 hours.
Q: Why do some negative results from rapid molecular tests need to be confirmed by lab-based molecular testing?
A: Negative results from rapid point-of-care tests only require confirmation with lab-based molecular testing (e.g. PCR) for tests conducted at acute care facilities or as part of outbreak management at continuing care facilities, where the highest test sensitivity is required.
Q: How accurate are rapid tests compared to lab-based molecular (e.g. PCR) tests?
A: Our evaluations show that rapid molecular point-of-care tests have comparable sensitivity to PCR and other lab-based molecular tests, while rapid antigen tests are less accurate than PCR tests, especially when used on people with no symptoms.
Lab scientist Sandy Shokoples will never forget the dismay of discovering Alberta's first case of COVID-19. Sandy and the team at Alberta Precision Laboratories have been on a journey hunting the ever-changing virus ever since.
APL has been actively monitoring the genetic code of SARS-CoV-2 in Alberta since the beginning of the pandemic to understand how the virus is evolving in our population and to detect the arrival of variant strains from outside the province. By monitoring the virus's entire genetic code, and sharing this information with national and international health authorities, we are able to identify and track strains that may pose new challenges for diagnosing and treating the disease in our community.
New variant COVID-19 strains identified as the Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Gamma (P.1), and Delta (B.1.617) and Omicron (B.1.1.529) have been classified as Variants of Concern because they appear to spread more easily than other strains. They have since spread to many other countries around the world, including Canada. The first case of a Variant of Concern in Alberta was the B.1.1.7 strain, which was identified by lab testing on Dec. 25, 2020.
All of APL's COVID-19 testing methods are capable of detecting all known strains of the virus, but additional testing of positive cases is required to identify whether a patient is infected with a specific variant. APL has developed its own PCR tests that are used to screen positive test results for variants of concern. In addition, hundreds of selected samples are subject to full genome sequencing each week, to monitor for new mutations. Variant cases of COVID-19 are publicly reported by Alberta Health.
PODCAST: Learn more about APL's work tracking the genetic evolution of COVID-19 in this podcast series by Genome Alberta.
Q: How long does it take to test for variants of concern?
A: Positive COVID-19 samples are sent for screening tests for the presence of mutations associated with the variants of concern. All samples that are found to contain these mutations are immediately forwarded to public health officials for contact tracing purposes.
It takes approximately 24 hours to complete an initial COVID-19 test, follow-up screening tests for variants of concern take 2-3 days.
We continue to conduct full genetic sequencing on hundreds of variant samples each week to monitor for other variant strains. Results of full genetic sequencing tests typically take 2-3 weeks.
Q: How are you testing for the Omicron variant of concern?
A: APL screens all positive test results for the variants of concern. Variant testing is done using a combination of rapid genetic sequencing technology that takes 4-5 days to complete, in addition to full genome sequencing that takes 2-3 weeks.
Q: Are patients notified if they test positive for a variant of concern?
A: Positive results for variant screening tests are reported to healthcare providers, Public Health and Infection Prevention and Control, but will not be provided directly to patients. Public health measures in place to prevent and manage spread of the virus are now based on Variants of Concern being widespread in our community, and patients should follow the directions for identifying close contacts as soon as they receive their initial positive test result.
Serology testing examines a person's blood to see if they have generated antibodies in response to being infected by the COVID-19 virus. It takes about one to three weeks following an infection for your body to make antibodies, therefore serology testing is only used to identify past exposure to virus and is not used for diagnosing current COVID-19 infections.
Serology testing is not used for diagnostic purposes but is currently being used for surveillance and research purposes to assess the number of people in Alberta who have been exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and to inform some medical treatment decisions. It is not available to the general public in Alberta, and tests must be ordered by a physician and approved by provincial virology experts. More information about serology testing.
Q: How can my doctor order serology testing for COVID-19?
A: Serology testing must be ordered by a physician and approved by the provincial Virologist-On-Call. More information for healthcare providers is available in the Updated: Serology Testing for COVID-19 lab bulletin.
Q: Can I receive a serology test outside of the provincial healthcare system?
A: Yes, various private-sector lab services provide fee-for-service serology testing in Alberta.
Q: If I have antibodies for COVID-19, does that mean I am immune to it?
A: A positive serology does not mean you are immune to COVID-19. At this time, there is a lack of evidence on whether having antibodies to COVID-19 means you are protected against reinfection with COVID-19 and if so, how long that protection would last.
