Anyone else doing home corona virus tests? Gives a whole other meaning to "can you see a line...?"

[CovidStoleTheRainbow]

Anyone else doing this?

No but they showed how it works on one of the press conferences and it was pretty fascinating. I'd not really thought about it before but it does work in the same way as a pregnancy test

Argh forgot the page was AIBU!

Not yet but due to start in a few weeks through work. They need to be careful describing them as 'like a pregnancy test' or some of them are going to get ruined.

Hi, we're moving this thread over to our Coronavirus topic at the OP's request.

Cheers

Where did you get it from? I didn’t know they were available

Yes just got a box. Pretty mind blowing.

Oooh where did you get them? Are you nhs?

Medisave. I’m not.

On a similar vein I emailed my child’s 11 plus test result to her tutor and put test result in the subject line-hurriedly changed it to 11 plus result as test result has a whole new meaning now and didn’t want to panic the tuition school!

NHS. I have a box and start on monday.

Just wondering what these are being used for?

Oh this is fascinating, I didn't know such a thing existed! How exciting!

Are they tricky to use OP?

My DD is an ICU nurse, and the department were given these earlier this week. They have to do tests twice a week. She said it's very easy, swab up the nose, then mix in with solution provided then drop onto the test strip. Takes about 30 mins to get a result.

For those using these please still get a proper PCR test done if negative but you have symptoms. I did three the day I got symptoms but they were all negative, I had a PCR test the following day when I felt dreadful and it was positive. These work by testing for covid antibodies which may not have had chance to develop if testing in the early stages of the virus.

I'm going to start these next week. If we get a positive we then have to book a PCR test.
Does anyone know what the false positive rate is for these? I keep meaning to Google it.

@Nursesophie are these not the same type of tests used for asymptomatic people in the mass testing programmes? I don’t understand why they would use them if so? I’m very confused

These work by testing for covid antibodies which may not have had chance to develop if testing in the early stages of the virus.

That's not correct - they test for viral antigens, which are present from the start of the infection. However, they're less sensitive than the normal PCR tests that test for viral genetic material, meaning that if you have low levels of the virus in your system these rapid tests may not pick up on it.

is it this?

www.medisave.co.uk/roche-sars-cov-2-rapid-anti-gen-test-kit.html

We're being told we are to get a normal test if we have symptoms, or if we test positive on one of these.

Are people really shelling out over £200 when it is possible to get tested for free, if required?

Oh sorry, through work, I guess healthcare? Sounds a good plan

I collected my box of tests this week, got to start twice weekly testing from Monday (NHS)

@Orangeblossom7777 yes through work - NHS.

I've just had a look online and the articles that I can find suggest there is a high percentage of false positives and false negatives with these.
False negative - I'm in the same position as if I hadn't taken a test, I'll still be distancing / mask wearing etc, and will book in a PCR test and isolate as per the usual process.
False positive - this is slightly more annoying as then the DCs would miss school isolating with until I'd taken and had the results of the PCR test.

Its not mandatory for us to take these at work, but if we opt it it becomes mandatory to continue twice weekly. DH and I have agreed it's for the greater good so I'll start next week.