It is kind of a moot point anyway try getting any of these rapid test kits.
Rapid tests for a client/SP meeting: realistic or not?
- Thread starter MCTJ
- Start date
Hearing that they are not 100% accurate, then why even test yourself?
I am not in one bit interested, I am fully vaccinated nd getting my booster real soon.
I have had an SW ask me to take the PCR test or else she won't offer DFK, but what I find weird that DATY and BBBJ are still on the menu.
I am not in one bit interested, I am fully vaccinated nd getting my booster real soon.
I have had an SW ask me to take the PCR test or else she won't offer DFK, but what I find weird that DATY and BBBJ are still on the menu.
That's silly.
No test is 100% accurate (and I'm not even sure what you mean by "accurate" here).
I guess she is blessed with legs that are 2 metres long and looks like you belong in the Guinness book of records also.
I know they are not accurate. Let me try again, they give false results, as of what I heard on the tv and radio. People could be sick and results with be not sic or vice versa.
Usually when you test positive with a rapid test your chances of actually having Covid is 90% or more.
There are much more false negative results, if you are asymptomatic you are very likely to test negative but you may still have it and be able to spread it.
supposedly when you are asymptomatic your viral load is too low and will not trigger a positive test result.
Yes, and?
The question is at what rate and what that means.
The Binex ones they are handing out are upwards of 90% sensitive and close to 100% specific.
If you test positive, you are almost certainly positive. If you test negative, it might not be true.
So it works as harm reduction, not as a guarantee. That's still useful.
Problem is this 90% claimed efficiency is against delta variant. Really, it is more 80%, but still good.
Second problem is this efficiency falls to 50% with the Omicron because the antigen is a lot different. And know, majority of cases are from Omicron.
Third problem, those test even when they are performing well, are not a real time response. They will tell you if you were contaminated 2 or 3 days before doing the test, because it need 2-3 days to get enough virus to get a positive response from those tests. So, in résumé, if the test is positive you know you are contaminated and contagious. If it is negative, you simply know there were not enough virus to get a positive result. That is the problem with those rapid tests. Of course the PCR test are much more sensitive, but they are much more expensive and in the best condition (paying a lot to a private lab) you could get the result within 24 hours...
Second problem is this efficiency falls to 50% with the Omicron because the antigen is a lot different. And know, majority of cases are from Omicron.
Third problem, those test even when they are performing well, are not a real time response. They will tell you if you were contaminated 2 or 3 days before doing the test, because it need 2-3 days to get enough virus to get a positive response from those tests. So, in résumé, if the test is positive you know you are contaminated and contagious. If it is negative, you simply know there were not enough virus to get a positive result. That is the problem with those rapid tests. Of course the PCR test are much more sensitive, but they are much more expensive and in the best condition (paying a lot to a private lab) you could get the result within 24 hours...
And from the Binax (not Binex) sheet we get:
Negative results should be treated as presumptive and confirmation with a molecular assay, if necessary, for patient management, may be performed. Negative results do not rule out SARSCoV-2 infection and should not be used as the sole basis for treatment or patient management decisions, including infection control decisions. Negative results should be considered in the context of a patient’s recent exposures, history and the presence of clinical signs and symptoms consistent with COVID-19. The BinaxNOWTM COVID-19 Ag Card is intended for use by medical professionals or trained operators who are proficient in performing rapid lateral flow tests. BinaxNOWTM COVID-19 Ag Card is only for use under the Food and Drug Administration’s Emergency Use Authorization.
source: https://www.fda.gov/media/141570/download
And it not accurate to say they are 100% specific as it is clearly indicated that: The BinaxNOWTM COVID-19 Ag Card does not differentiate between SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV2. But it is a good thing because it means it could detect different variant.
Wishful thinking doesn't help with help issue. If you read pages 7 and 8 of the linked document, you will notice, under LIMITATIONS, 15 different situations were the test is limited in its accuracy.
Each one could decide but can not discard known facts to justify his decision.
So those test are useful only when they turn-out positive. They have a much lower significance when the result is negative. Also, if you are positive (with a PCR test) with no symptoms, those test are more likely to give a false negative result.
Negative results should be treated as presumptive and confirmation with a molecular assay, if necessary, for patient management, may be performed. Negative results do not rule out SARSCoV-2 infection and should not be used as the sole basis for treatment or patient management decisions, including infection control decisions. Negative results should be considered in the context of a patient’s recent exposures, history and the presence of clinical signs and symptoms consistent with COVID-19. The BinaxNOWTM COVID-19 Ag Card is intended for use by medical professionals or trained operators who are proficient in performing rapid lateral flow tests. BinaxNOWTM COVID-19 Ag Card is only for use under the Food and Drug Administration’s Emergency Use Authorization.
source: https://www.fda.gov/media/141570/download
And it not accurate to say they are 100% specific as it is clearly indicated that: The BinaxNOWTM COVID-19 Ag Card does not differentiate between SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV2. But it is a good thing because it means it could detect different variant.
Wishful thinking doesn't help with help issue. If you read pages 7 and 8 of the linked document, you will notice, under LIMITATIONS, 15 different situations were the test is limited in its accuracy.
Each one could decide but can not discard known facts to justify his decision.
So those test are useful only when they turn-out positive. They have a much lower significance when the result is negative. Also, if you are positive (with a PCR test) with no symptoms, those test are more likely to give a false negative result.
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