Anyone paid for a COVID 19 test?

[Keepmeawayfromthecrisps]

DH is thinking of paying £150 for a covid19 test so that he is able to go back to work (works abroad).
Some of his colleagues have already done this, and I just wondered if anyone had or knew If they were reliable or not?

[TJH130]

Didn't these turn out to be a scam?

[damnthisvirusandmarriage]

I paid £99 for one on Monday. It arrived Thursday. I sent it back yesterday too. Awaiting the results. It was a self prick blood test. Anti body one. Not told a soul in real life.

[SirVixofVixHall]

Can you get antibody ones by post now ? Are they reliable ?

[TheHobbitMum]

I didn't realise there was an antibody test yet? Could you link to where you bought it?

[Incrediblytired]

They aren’t reliable

[Bigfatpicnic]

I would be interested in this test. Is this in the UK @Keepmeawayfromthecrisps ?

[Keepmeawayfromthecrisps]

@Bigfatpicnic
Yes in the UK, I’ve searched online and there seems to be a few ‘clinics’offering them but wasn’t sure how reliable they would be. Was to test if you had covid though not antibody test.

@Incrediblytired - is it the antibody tests that are not reliable or the ones you can buy to test if you have covid? Or both

[Keepmeawayfromthecrisps]

*have covid

[Keepmeawayfromthecrisps]

@damnthisvirusandmarriage how long do you have to wait for results? Have you had symptoms that made you think you’ve had it or just curious?

[Didkdt]

I'd really like an antibody test.
I'd love the whole family to have it. I have seen one for a significant sum but just not sure if it's reliable.
Portondown are sending out 20,000 antibody tests to track community spread those are supposed to be the most reliable but they are being kept for government use.

[damnthisvirusandmarriage]

1-2 days. Working days I think. So assume I get results next week.

No symptoms. Curious if I had it in December. Had some VERY mild symptoms since. Just curiosity really.

[Bigfatpicnic]

If I have had it, then I have had it mildly, but I would like to know. @Keepmeawayfromthecrisps
There was an bit on the bbc news just now about these tests being offered, but I only caught the last 30seconds of it.

[Starrynightsabove]

There are no reliable pinprick antibody tests and it’s illegal to sell them in UK

[Starrynightsabove]

@damnthisvirusandmarriage you’ve paid £100 for a test which isn’t reliable when you’ve had no symptoms? They saw you coming!

[SirVixofVixHall]

So if Porton Down are sending out antibody tests then they must exist ?
I have found the reporting on this v confusing.

[MajesticWhine]

There are antibody tests for £98 in London clinics right now. I'm not linking it but if you search "covid-19 antibody testing london" you would find it. I cannot vouch for reliability but I am tempted.

[SirVixofVixHall]

Hmm, I am not sure what to think. DH had a virus with Covid symptoms, but late Feb. We assumed flu, but the symptoms fit Covid more than flu. It would be hugely helpful to know as I am at higher risk, but not at shielding level.

[damnthisvirusandmarriage]

Tests were unreliable because they were done at home. Like a pee in a stick. Except with blood. But the one I did was a blood sample sent to a laboratory. Lucky I can afford it 👍

[Bluegrass]

There was a recent article looking at 14 different tests and the headline result was that reliability varied from about 84% accurate to one which is apparently 100% accurate (I think these are all ones that get sent off to labs, and require a doctors appointment to administer the test).

I must admit I’ve been tempted as a colleague tested positive and I spent a fair bit of time with them while they were suffering what they now believe were covid19 symptoms, so I think I had a lot of exposure. It’s just curiosity though really, I don’t think I’ll bother.