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

[CovidStoleTheRainbow]

Anyone else doing this?

Yes NHS.

Someone at work said they aren't that accurate?

DH has the same ones, started yesterday!

Mine isn't Medisave, no.
When I go upstairs next I will have a look what mine is called.

I would prefer this than having to have a full covid test every week as I currently am.

I’ve bought a box of these from Henry Schein. Going to test before seeing old people for festive meal, also isolating for 10 days.

We start next week hopefully (NHS)

If they are not that accurate surprised they are using them for NHS really. rather than the other ones which are available.

They are much cheaper and can be done at home. The inaccuracy is mitigated by the fact you can use them more often, 3x a week for example.

@Orangeblossom7777 we will still need a PCR if we have any of a wide range of symptoms or a positive lateral flow test

@Orangeblossom7777 see my last post. PCR tests are really expensive. This allows us to test twice weekly, and then follow up with the PCR as needed OR go through the normal PCR route if we have symptoms.

OK I see. I was just a little concerned as it may give false reassurance in such high risk settings..

I get that people follow up with a PCR if it is positive but that doesn't change anything for a false negative.

www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4469

Healthcare staff rates seemed higher than general public so maybe that is why.

I was included in the Imperial College trial for antibodies.

The test was positive the first time and also the second (about 3 months later).

Apart from it being done with blood not urine, looking for the results was very like a pregnancy test.

The positive lines were very obvious but I was surprised that there weren't any threads started here titled "Line eyes - is this positive?" for very obvious negatives.

@LegoPandemic

I’ve bought a box of these from Henry Schein. Going to test before seeing old people for festive meal, also isolating for 10 days.

Same, I got some Nadal Igm/Igg tests. They test a blood sample - Sensitivity IgM 91.9%, IgG 99.9% / Specificity IgM 99.2%, IgG 99.5%

I'll be testing my son 8 or 9 days after I take him out of school on Dec 11th and then my wife and I will test on Dec 23rd just before we go to my Mum's on the 24th. We'll all be isolating from the 11th.

If any of us are IgM positive we will stay home.

Started using my box last week, 3rd test .... positive! No symptoms. PCR test later in day also pos. Woke following morning with no taste or smell. The positive line was so very faint though.

@Orangeblossom7777

OK I see. I was just a little concerned as it may give false reassurance in such high risk settings..

I get that people follow up with a PCR if it is positive but that doesn't change anything for a false negative.

I think the idea is that you pick up more cases if you test everyone twice a week with a less accurate test, than you do if you test fewer people with a more accurate test. The advantage increases because the lateral flow test gives a result within half an hour, so you get your asymptomatic positives off the ward immediately, whereas with the PCR test they're still in and working for a couple of days til the result comes through.

Time will tell.

I suspect (don't know, but suspect) they will also be comparing rates of positive tests before and after the vaccine programme, which will in itself be fascinating. Certainly we have to report every negative test we do, which would tend to support the idea that they're data-collecting too.

Is it possible to buy these as a non NHS person?

Is there such thing as a false positive? It's only on mumsnet I've ever come across the idea. False negatives I can understand. False positives I don't see how they can happen.

@Toddlerteaplease

Is there such thing as a false positive? It's only on mumsnet I've ever come across the idea. False negatives I can understand. False positives I don't see how they can happen.

Look at the Specificity of the test. I don't know how it happens but if it's less than 100% there is a chance of a false positive. Contamination can be a cause.