So is everyone going to do twice weekly LFT?

[SonnetForSpring]

As Boris has requested. I am.

Already do, my daughter does for school, my son doesn't need to for primary but my husband and I join her. It's no big deal!

@RoseRedRoseBlue

Nope, this money could be far, far better spent elsewhere.

As far as I’m aware it’s already been spent and we’ve got loads.

False positives are very rare and you then use a pcr test to confirm whether it is accurate or not. PCR tests are being turned round by the next day.

As for false negatives. Yes, thats more of an issue, but you can't use them as a green light to do whatever you like. They help discover 60% of cases and that is a big cut in the amount of virus circulating.

I'd rather they spent the money on international aid, it would likely save more lives.

@jumpbounce

Well there would be much less positives if they were detected and the people self isolated then in general there would be far less positives than just ignoring it and carrying on spreading it to far more people. LFT don't catch every positive but even a small percentage of people who wouldn't have otherwise known they were postive, self isolating them will have an impact on overall positives.

Oh yeah, I know all that but the initial positives would be what warranted further restrictions and I can't get on board with that. I'm also vaccinated twice so tbh I don't see the point.

@Tealightsandd

I'm not sure it's a good idea. Aren't they really inaccurate? They can give false positives - and even more dangerously, false negatives.

False negatives are only dangerous if someone has symptoms and doesn't get a PCR and instead just follows the negative LFT which is why the guideline is PCR for symptomatic. Otherwise those people without symptoms wouldn't know whether they were positive or negative anyway so even capturing a small percentage of those asymptomatic who otherwise wouldn't have known will be better than none.

My family have been doing them for a while as requested for work and school . Happy to do them anyway for peace of mind .

We are already

I already test weekly for work but its a proper cocid test like you would do on a covod testing site.
I was under the Impression that LFT wasn't very accurate? I guess it's better then nothing though?

Already am and will continue to do so

From listening to many other people doing regular, twice weekly LFT’s I have come to the conclusion that they are having completely the opposite effect that the government wanted.

So many people with coughs, colds, sore throats, chills, high temperatures & other flu-like symptoms confidently stating, “well I do twice weekly LFT’s so I just know it’s not Covid”!!

So I personally feel they’re giving false reassurance to people who should essentially be getting a PCR - particularly for cough, high temp or loss/change to smell/taste - I am of course aware that other viruses are circulating but I strongly believe LFT’s are not being used as they should be.

I have been since January but now have Covid so can’t for 90 days. I doubt I’ll start again.

I suppose they might have some use?

I guess you're right jumpbounce. Problem is quite a lot of people will just dismiss their symptoms as a cold or other virus when they get a false negative.

Perhaps it's better than nothing though. LFT can help to some extent?

Yep. I do it for work as in social care but also have vulnerable family members so it’s safer for them too.

I've been doing them since March anyway for work but yes, will continue. Doesn't hurt.

Temp023-That made me laugh
I have a cupboard full of Son's unused ones-Thankfully School seems to have got the message and are no longer sending any home.

No. The strategy should be to throw all resources at hotspot areas.

I already am as I work in a school. My eldest teenage son is doing them as well.

I do for work so does DH, but it is horrible and makes me retch and my eyes water. It gets old fast

No, not doing it.

Yeah, I am anyway.

Not that I watched Boris, his voice grates on me a bit now.

I've been doing one a week on Sundays because I only go somewhere once a week on Mondays (apart from out for a walk/exercise daily of course), so makes sense for me to do it before that.

I'm not convinced I'm getting a good enough sample though because I don't have tonsils and it's hard to aim for something that isn't there!

Nope,no way.

@Tealightsandd

I suppose they might have some use?

I guess you're right jumpbounce. Problem is quite a lot of people will just dismiss their symptoms as a cold or other virus when they get a false negative.

Perhaps it's better than nothing though. LFT can help to some extent?

Those people shouldn't be doing lateral flow though if they have symptoms, they should be doing PCR regardless, any symptoms requires a PCR (I think there probably needs to be more publicity on this, I certainly read it on the LFT instruction booklet but many might not read the booklet in detail) but yes I see where people will just not bother with the PCR and presume because their lateral flow is negative they don't need to bother.

No. I barely go anywhere, DH is wfh, we don't mix with anyone. If I get symptoms I'll do a PCR but I'm vaccinated and we've had covid already so hopefully that won't happen anyway.