I have gone nuts and paid someone to come to my house and do an antibody test on us

[LaurieFairyCake]

Can't take anymore not knowing so I've paid £260 to bike out a test from a lab and wait while we stab ourselves and return our blood to the lab

Dh thinks I've gone a bit batshit but I couldn't take anymore

Disclaimer : it won't affect my behaviour in line with current government guidelines

@Egghead68 - flu? pneumonia? a really nasty cold?

I'm not at all surprised most tests are negative. There are loads of bugs around this time of year and lots of people who think they have had it won't have done. Especially before March. I won't be surprised if my test comes back negative, it would just be nice to know.

I've emailed twice and had no response

The next email will be me asking for my money back

That's rubbish OP!

I did the Abbot one yesterday and posted off. For £49 it seemed worth doing. If it is negative given the family were all ill to varying degrees with symptoms I may try again with another type when more become available.

I’m not a key worker but only so long I can avoid going into central London via tube for work purposes so a positive would provide some reassurance.

To add - I know £49 is a lot of money for most and out of reach of many people but we are lucky that it is easily affordable for us. So if it gives us valuable info that can drive major decisions it is worth it to us.

I ordered the £49 test the day before reading the stories on the unreliability.
I’ve posted it off. First two finger pricks on little fingers had disappointingly low blood; the third (I pushed hard) on the side of my pointer finger (not the technical name) filled it up in no time.

I was expecting the collection of the blood sample to be a bit challenging after reading these posts, but deary me I did struggle with it. I'm ok with needles so it's not the pain but it was so hard to get the blood out, especially as my blood pressure is in my boots these days! I stabbed the shit out of my finger and managed to do it in the end, but it took ages. Ha. It took so long that it was 11.45 by the time I was done and I still had to pack everything in the envelope and scoot to the high street to the nearest priority post box, but I made it. Phew!

OP, I'm gutted yours hasn't worked out! I do hope it's just the lab being really busy, but not responding to emails is really shitty of them. I hope you get a refund soon.

I tried with three more lancet and followed all your tips but only got blood everywhere but in the tube. I do feel very inept!
I contacted the company that sold the test and explained my difficulties and asked for either a refund or credit note as I have no intention of keep trying to injure myself pointlessly but got a totally shitty reply that they weren't going do to either refund or credit note. So beware of the risk of losing money if you can't collect the blood

@Egghead68 - flu? pneumonia? a really nasty cold?

@Aridane I would agree if the symptoms and timecourse fitted but this has had a relapsing remitting timecourse and lasted 9 weeks plus, caused heart problems with raised troponin, chest burning and skin problems, none of which are associated with cold or flu. More than 10% of people are thought to have been infected with Covid in my area (and probably a lot more who, like me, work in the hospital) - it’s not rare or unlikely.

The medical article above found that the Abbott test got more false negatives over time whereas the Roche test for fewer. We’re waiting for the Roche test. We’d no particular illnesses but know loads who did and were on packed tubes until lockdown.

Empathetic reply @CoCoCorona.

Sorry other people have struggled with the blood samples too.

It’s worth noting that Blue Horizon send out only 2 lancets as opposed to other tests’ 3. IMO it’s definitely worth having at least 3.

Just to add that the other usual thing about my illness is the incubation period - I got ill 11 days after last having contact with anyone. COVID-19 has an incubation period of up to 14 days whereas for colds and flu it’s much shorter than 11 days.

A discussion on 5 live this morning suggested that around 20% of those infected don't produce antibodies.

@laurie my corona swab I had done at work went missing too but fortunately didn't have to pay a penny

www.msn.com/en-gb/news/coronavirus/antibody-tests-will-be-available-on-the-nhs-government-says/ar-BB14pBcc?ocid=spartanntp

I’m tempted but unsure if I’ve left it too late- I’ll end of February. Would it be more or less accurate after that time?

A discussion on 5 live this morning suggested that around 20% of those infected don't produce antibodies.

If that's true, and the Abbots test is only 87% accurate after 40 days then together some people only have 63% chance of having an accurate positive test?

Interesting as I did my test after 80 days so the test results may be less accurate.

Egghead yep I agree re incubation period I know where I got mine and it was 14 days until I displayed symptoms. And I had been self isolating shielding apart from the time I had to go out and got covid 19

Hi does anyone know where I can find the antibody test for £49? I saw it someone on here but I can't find it ! And will it look for antibodies for the last few months ?
Thanks

I think the £49 test was one with less accuracy than Abbott and Roche

Did someone also mention Superdrug? (!)

The £49 test is from Treated.com and is the Abbott test

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

Anyone positive yet??