Home testing kits within days.

[NotExactlyHappyToHelp]

apple.news/AgxDFaDblQVmkOUpmI6C3ag

What do we all think? A hugely positive step is my first thought.

I'm 90% sure I've had it over last 2 weeks. I want to help nurse. I would like to be sure

Testing is the only way to combat this.
Should have been the number one priority at the first sign of it.
I'm trying to be optimistic but these tests sound a little too good to be true. They need to pass testing first. Fingers crossed.

Well, The Independent is just a millennial version of The Sun these days so it might not be the absolute best reliable source... But this would hopefully be a good thing.

However, the antibody test would be the best thing, as this test only works if you actually currently have Covid doesn't it?

Also - be aware
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-51991245

Man in court for circulating fake COVID test kits

A great thing if we can get proper tests but some awful people will take advantage.

The antibody test involves pricking a finger and analysing a drop of blood in a device that looks like a pregnancy test. It will tell the person using it is they have, or had, Covid-19 and enable them to act accordingly.

Yes testing should have been a number one priority for our NHS workers.

I’ve a friend who’s a A&E Doctor who’s having to self isolate at the moment for what he’s fairly sure is seasonal allergies. If he could test and prove this he could get back to helping people.

I’d be more than happy to buy tests for my family. They need to be providing them free to all frontline essential workers.

DH is in a volunteer run emergency service, so this will be hugely helpful if he has had it.

Bit more info on the 15-min tests from one of the only other sources I could find
www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/25/uk-coronavirus-mass-home-testing-to-be-made-available-within-days

@LambriniSocialist I’ve seen a Guardian article about this too so hopefully it’s not sensationalist and based on fact. Not that I’m saying the Guardian are bastions of rigorous fact checking but the more sources that report the more likely it is to be based in fact.

Thanks Lumene I missed that bit where they said it is the antibody test. Interesting... This would be amazing if it is legit, we are self isolating at the moment 99% sure we have all had it/are recovering but without a test obviously we can't be sure.

Excellent news if true. I’m a little sketchy on the timeline, though given no one else in the world has a serological test, let alone a home one. And can’t IgM and IgA tests be unreliable?

But I do think that Frontline NHS workers should also get access to them first.

I hope that they aren't 'panic bought' by people who felt slightly rough at Christmas and are convinced they have already had it!

I don't know how true these news are, but quick tests are being developed and some just deployed.

My main concern is the use at home. Looking at all the imaginary and self doubting threads about pregnancy tests on MN, not sure the general public is prepared for these tests.

Oh God, could you imagine the 'line eyes please' threads off the back of this?

Well considering that some people cannot count to 6, I think there will be a considerable number of people incapable of performing the test properly.
6 was the maximum number allowed in the local greengrocers this morning ( witten clearly on a notice at the front door.
The mind boggles

At least my DDad will be able to use his famous ‘Well I feel a little prick’ joke .

Not that I’ll be there to hear it but I’m sure he’ll FaceTime me to say it.

This sounds brilliant for health/essential workers. But I'm not sure how useful it will be for the general public, in terms of getting people back to their normal lives. Would we have to trust that everybody who stops self-isolating has taken a test first?

Obviously it's a positive thing, I'm just not sure it's a game-changer for the general public (unless I'm missing something, which is possible).

@Abelino That’s an excellent point. God knows how we’d be able to monitor it. Think it’s been proven this past week you can’t trust people not to be giant knobs.

Was just coming on to post about this, so glad it's been picked up already.

And for those doubting, this was from the PHE at the House of Commons Science and Tech committee this morning, it's not random rantings - lots of chatter on Twitter from political journalists to verify.

e.g.

twitter.com/adamfleming/status/1242827523991449606

This really should have been ramped up previously, but glad it's coming about, having an at home kit will make a big difference to allow the population dynamics to be better understood and also get those back into society who we need.

Apparently these things do exist in China, early days. Some entrepreneur in San Francisco bought some to test a section of the population there. You can see pics of them here:

twitter.com/friedberg/status/1242628898887630848?s=21

How will it help? Will it test positive if you've had it? how will you know you aren't still infectious? And if you test negative, presumably that's no use as you could still get it tomorrow?

I think as well once these become widespread we may need a government education piece similar to the 'wash your hands' notices i.e. what to do and how to interpret it correctly.

It would help to let people see if they’d already had it- as the assumption is that we haven't unless we’ve had severe or obvious symptoms but some studies suggest many (up to half) of the population will have had it with no or little symptoms. IF this could be proven then the lockdown wouldn’t have to be so long etc.

And people who work on frontline services would know they had had it already so could return to work with less worry. Or no need to isolate, again.

I'm not sure how I feel about this.

Test positive, brilliant. Off you go back to work. This then brings the issue of bringing it into the home of others test negative.

Test negative your waiting...