What's happening with testing?

[Astressie]

Just that. Anyone have any insight into this or, perhaps works in the industry. From the start the WHO have said 'TEST, TEST, TEST'. We haven't got our act together. Why? Labs who are ready to process tests not being used and it is said there is not enough of the chemical being made to carry out the tests. This is despite chemical producers asking what the government want them to make. Not only could this impact the NHS/ people's lives in so many ways and the spread of the virus, it is also an embarrassment and national disgrace for the UK. Feel frustrated, helpless and angry about this. Can someone please explain?

Meanwhile private companies are offering tests to those that can pay and antibody tests available this week or next for 195 pounds too.

Bumping, hoping someone can shed some light on this?

Nothing to add but watching this post

I had a thought, after a discussion with a friend who is a working chemist (manufacturer of weird stuff).

He pointed out that the oft repeated phrase "the only thing worse than not test is a bad test" could be saying, without actually saying, that some of the testing round the world may be flawed. Given the speed with which some countries started to test and how many they managed to test in such a short period of time he, my friend, is suspicious as to the accuracy of those tests, especially the early ones.

Given the novel nature of COVID 19 I suspect he may have a point.
Added to that the lack of UK made chemicals needed for reliable tests seems reasonable to me. But there is something underlying this...

The commercially available ones are scary too. Why are they available? What are they?

I'm just feeling we are too slow too act quickly and decisively. I understand the issue of quality but feel we may be wrapped up in bureaucracy and red tape. Our gov. not used to working with private companies or adapting quick enough to the circumstances. Would love to understand the issues properly? Why is it not being gotten a grip of? Same as with PPE.

Meanwhile private companies are offering tests to those that can pay and antibody tests available this week or next for 195 pounds too.

"In Germany, the costs (approximately €200 or $220) are covered by health insurance companies, but only if the patient is actually classified as a suspected case by the doctor."

South Korea;
"The government pays for tests of people with symptoms, if referred by a doctor. Otherwise, people who want to be tested can pay up to 170,000 won ($140), said an official at a company called Seegene Inc, which supplies 80% of the country's kits and says it can test 96 samples at once."

So, are you say there is an issue with costs? I don't think this is the issue.

I have found that whenever Pob makes a statement that the opposite is closer to the truth.

So, are you say there is an issue with costs? I don't think this is the issue.

No, I was answering the comment that implied that the UK had allowed private testing when other countries have not - South Korea licenced private testing centres to keep up with demand.

Sorry for not knowing but what is Pob?

Pob was a childrens' tv character in the 1980s. He quite closely resembles Michael Gove.

Gove in action

They have some of the chemicals required, as they are made in this country, but they are missing vital ingredients which need importing. Of course the whole world is fighting for the reagents etc.

@MarathonMo do you have a source for this? Very keen to see anything confirmed about us being able to actually buy an antibody test imminently

Also this may be of interest re the other tests

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/01/absolutely-wrong-how-uk-coronavirus-test-strategy-unravelled

Interesting the Guardian article: i remember BJ saying testing would now stop at the start. I didn't get it when he said it. I feel like we have ignored advice from other countries and the WHO, and have arrogantly carried on with our own plans for fighting the virus and not listened. Rather we have concentrated on the eggheads modelling and clever projections. I do feel Dominic Cummins and his 'weirdos and misfits' that he wanted in the Civil Service may have impacted decision making. I feel we should have put more emphasis on practicalities like sourcing PPE equipment and testing kits than fancy modelling and ground-breaking ideas like 'herd' immunity or massive show off intensive care hospitals. I just don't feel we are being practical enough. in fact private companies are now filling the vacuum and selling their services for testing to GP surgeries as the government won't use them.

in fact private companies are now filling the vacuum and selling their services for testing to GP surgeries as the government won't use them. Which could be a dangerous mistake.

The point being that people who take any test will feel safe because of the result and will then go about their normal business.

Which will then open the floodgates for everyone, tested or not. How will anyone now who is 'safe', how do we know the tests are relieable, how will those going out be policed?

Shit or not, so far the UK is not much different from any other country, excepting S Korea, which will remain an unusual case. The majority of NHS workers tested have not tested positive. Given the many and varied ways each country has of counting the cases and deaths we can't compare the data directly.

The only thing that seems to have had a direct positive impact is the wearing of masks... and China, Singapore, Hong Kong all had mask wearing as a pretty much routine way of life. That's why they had so many masks available immediately.

Much else is conjecture, some is just scareminhgering, the worst is political point scoring.

It's scary. All we can do is stay in and wait! Much as most other countries are doing!