RE:I don't get itI think they did and while analyzing the results they found that their test was positive with the original strain but maybe it was having difficulty picking up variants so now they need to optimize the test the fix it.
Remember they can't tell who has what variant until the PCR test comes back positive and then they send it out for genome testing: Samples that are flagged positive for COVID-19 are sent to a provincial laboratory to undergo a polymerase chain reaction test, similar to what all labs have been using to detect the novel coronavirus. This initial screening searches for an N501Y gene mutation in the samples, which is the gene that is currently found in all three variants of concern.
If this gene is detected at this point, the sample is sent for genome sequencing — however, variant cases are not published and added to the variant cases tally until the specific variant type can be identified.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A VARIANT IS DETECTED AND IS SENT FOR GENOME SEQUENCING?
Genome sequencing acts as a confirmatory platform to not only verify the presence of the N501Y mutation, but to identify which variant type it is. This method of testing is currently being used to identify the B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and P.1 variants; however, provinces have started to use the sequencing method on a small fraction of cases to screen for possible new and emerging variants.
Because genome sequencing is more expensive than the current novel coronavirus test, only five per cent of cases were previously being tested for variants.