C-19 Zoe App tells me to get a test about once a month!

[Realitea]

I’m wondering if I shouldn’t log every little thing anymore as it tells me to get a test, which I do but then I’ve had three or four now since March and I’m worried I’m doing it too much.
I’ve just logged today’s - I’ve been feeling rough since yesterday, headaches, sleeping in the day, a bit nauseous, some stomach pain. I do work in a ‘high contact’ job as the government put it but I don’t get tested as part of the job and I do have anaemia which could be the reason I feel under the weather so often.
Should I just ignore the requests from the app to get a test from now on?

I’ve been using Zoe for a while, and have often reported ‘niggles’, headaches, sore throat, fatigue etc and not once have I been asked to test. I’m quite surprised as from what I’ve read on here a lot of people are asked to. On that basis I would go ahead and test, assuming they’re interested in a particular combination or pattern you’ve reported.

You sound like exactly the sort of person they need to be reporting all symptoms and doing tests tbh. Knowing what fraction of niggly symptoms like that turn out to be positive vs negative, and what combination of niggly symptoms are most often positive, is going to be really useful information. Remember some people do have almost no symptoms, so helping the app to identify the combinations most likely to be infectious is really important.

The fact that you are being offered a test could already be a result of what previous participants turning out to be covid positive have reported.

I do know what you mean, as I have hesitated over reporting minor symptoms at times, thinking it really seemed unnecessary, because I hadn't been out and really knew it couldn't be covid. It still gives then useful data though as knowing in general on any one day what fraction of their participants have a slight sore throat but still test negative is useful data, so I still reported and did the tests.

In your case I wouldn't hesitate though. Not only will your test give them useful data, but the app could well be pointing you towards a test because you fit a symptom profile that they have already learned can test positive. And if one day you do test positive, your symptom and test history will be particularly useful to help the app spot covid signs in people who have more background health niggles, where they might generally be less obvious.

Thanks @eeeyoresmiles that's very useful. In that case I'll go with it. Sometimes if I've felt a bit 'not quite right' i've left it that day and waited to see how I am the next day. From now on I'll just be honest and keep reporting every day.
@DamitJanet that's strange they haven't invited you to test! I thought maybe it was automatic when they ask whenever you report something!

Why go on an app when you can get tested so easily, then you know for sure. My son booked a test yesterday, was given a time of 12, 10 mins to do the test, he had the results that night. So in 24 hrs he knew he was negative. The testing centre is 5 mins drive from our house.

Isn't the swab test quite unpleasant to have?

@Alex50

Why go on an app when you can get tested so easily, then you know for sure. My son booked a test yesterday, was given a time of 12, 10 mins to do the test, he had the results that night. So in 24 hrs he knew he was negative. The testing centre is 5 mins drive from our house.

It isnt for you to assess your symptoms it is for them to analyse the data. You are supposed to report every day even if you are 100% well

Oh ok i’ve never used it but seems a bit of illogical data if you don’t know if you have it or not without a test?

They send a random number of people with certain patterns of symptoms for tests. They can then analyse the results to identify the pattern of presentations most likely to indicate COVID. This could provide an early warning system for spikes and hotspots. It also helps identify symptoms not on the governments list that are highly correlated with Covid.

@Alex50 - they get data reports from 4m people across the UK and do randomised testing, as well as sending people with symptoms for tests. The data is used for scientific research; which symptoms were / weren't covid is useful info.

I gave up with it. I cough all summer because of hayfever, often have an upset stomach get headaches with my period and have a rash from eczema. I know it's all normal for me but surely the app will think I need to be tested?

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

I gave up with it. I cough all summer because of hayfever, often have an upset stomach get headaches with my period and have a rash from eczema. I know it's all normal for me but surely the app will think I need to be tested?

They've added a new question recently when you report a symptom, asking if it's typical or not of your usual seasonal allergies (or some wording like that). So they are aware of this sort of thing as an issue, and I suppose the questions might get more fine tuned in time.

Periods are an interesting one as they also affect temperature slightly, not only that but things like heart rate are affected by where you are in your cycle. I wonder if in the future this sort of data collection exercise will routinely record day in cycle for pre-menopausal women.

What about the menopause and hot flushes?

Hot flushes apparently don't actually raise your core temperature, although I'm not sure if a forehead thermometer might show a higher temperature, perhaps.

@lljkk I had the swab on Monday, after reporting on the app that I had a sore throat.

It’s not unpleasant as such, it’s a bit bluerrgghh, but if I had to have another I wouldn’t even think twice. It’s really not that bad, makes your eyes water though!!

@MabelMoo23 what was your result?