Lateral flow tests

Just reading this post makes me gag. My poor dentist struggles when I go as I gag ad soon ad he comes near me with any implements ? I'd be much happier giving blood than doing swabs so am staying in with my animals, good job I'm a home bird??

naughtynanny
Your immune system responds to illness with symptoms, if you have no symptoms, you have no illness

So are you saying we should have absolutely no regard for the clinically vulnerable in society who could be infected with covid by people like you. You seem to be proudly proclaiming you have ignored all the guidelines.

I hope your family remains safe and well, unlike many on Gransnet who have lost loved ones to covid. Many of them could well have been infected by people with your attitude. It’s not all about you.

I have a box of LFTs, which I have never used. However, I live in an area of low infection and have not been anywhere where the chance of infection is anything other than extremely low. I have not been in close contact with anybody since the pandemic started.

However, if I lived in an area of high infection and shared a house with others or had to go out to work, I would use them.

I do not feel controlled or scared. As far as I'm concerned, I'm being sensible and I object to people who tell me I'm "scared". You live your life - I'll live mine.

Fully vaccinated people can still be infected (possibly asymptomatically) and transmit infection to unvaccinated people.

naughtynanny Why do you feel the urge to spread false news?

naughtynanny The rate of false positives with LFTs is absolutely minimal. It's far more likely that a false negative result will occur, which is why they can never be a guarantee that a person is not infected. Nevertheless, they do pick up asymptomatic cases and prevent transmission. If you have symptoms, it's advised to have a PCR test.

In view of the cost of all this - not to mention the single-use plastic as others have said - we really do need stats to show the efficacy of testing fully vaccinated people, esp in areas with low infection rates.

I agree with those who say this is being used as a means of control and keeping people scared. Seems to be effective.

Missiseff

Blimey. I haven't done any. I work in a hospital and no-one's ever recommended that I should either.

so you haven't seen any of the government stuff on TV or in the papers?

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

My last comment was a reply to Milliedog ?‍♀️

I agree!

Twice a week for work and also do my children. Have been doing every day this week & one PCR (all negative) as I was with a group of friends, one of whom has since tested positive so am in isolation for 10 days. I should add that we weren’t being irreapinsible as regards meeting (within the rules) and we are all doubly vaccinated because of work!! Just shows that it is highly transmissible as she & her immediate family are all positive. She had what she believed was a cold. Her husband has been vaccinated once and has been much more poorly. It shows though that vaccination is preventing the hospitalisations and deaths. I would advocate the regular testing!

I test myself once a week but just cannot swab the back of my mouth. I swab both nostrils and sneeze a lot!

Only once a month when I visit my sister in her nursing home.

In mid January I felt perfectly well except for a slightly runny nose. Zoe sent me a test. It came back positive. Was so shocked, I didn't tell my husband - just showed him the text. He moved out of the bedroom and into the spare room. A few days later, the cough descended. I had the virus fairly mildly but Long Covid is horrible. My husband escaped it. Suggest everyone joins the Zoe Coronavirus project.

Puzzler61

DH has been doing them twice weekly and is on the Imperial College research programme, but I obtained some Lateral Flow Test kits just this week to start doing them twice a week too.

We are also on the Imperial College research programme but we have been asked to do monthly antibody blood tests so I guess they have other programmes they are running.

I did get a couple of boxes of the lateral flow tests and have done a couple, both negative. My other half won't do them, he thinks as we hardly go anywhere and he feels fine that he doesn't need to!

Olive53
Why would you take them twice a week if you have no symptoms
Stop testing and let’s all get back to normal.

The routine testing is to detect symptomless positive cases so they can isolate and help stop the spread. There are folk walking around without realising they are positive for covid and capable of transmitting it to the vulnerable.

While that is happening we can’t get back to normal. Routine testing is essential.

Yes I do twice a week lateral testing. I also do the PCR test if I have any cold symptoms (I’m in the Zoe COVID study and they invite you to test if you have symptoms -list of 20). Fortunately they’ve all been negative. I’ll keep testing as long as I’m required to.

I work as a GP receptionist, all staff have to take 2 a week and report results online.

Dh and I both did a self-test yesterday morning, before meeting up with old friends we haven’t seen for ages, for lunch. Despite both having had 2nd jabs some time ago, jus a precaution.

Of course it’s not at all pleasant sticking things up your nose or to the back of your throat, but the discomfort is only momentary.

After being asked by the ONS way back in 2020, dh and I did a good many self swab tests at home, and because of a further request are now doing finger prick blood tests for antibodies, in addition to more swab tests. (Both positive for antibodies, as we were informed later.)

Honestly none of it is a big deal.

Why would you take them twice a week if you have no symptoms. The results aren’t accurate anyway
No wonder the so called cases are so high.
Stop testing and let’s all get back to normal.
We were told in April 2000 that masks are useless, but we’ve been muzzled for months and they didn’t stop the infection
If the vaccine is so effective, why are we still restricted in what we can and cannot do........... It’s all about control!!!!!

Quote from Manhattan says staff should still test after vaccinations, no mention there of patients.

Yes I have been doing them from when we were asked to start doing them. Everyone needs to do all that is possible to stop the spread. They are easy to get hold of, easy to do and I report mine on line. Even if not 100% accurate for whatever reason it gives some idea of what is going on.

The only test I have done (PCR) was prior to hospital admission and was negative. DH tested weekly prior to retirement due to nature of his work. We have both had both vaccinations. DS also had 2 x vaccinations due to nature of work and was asked to test twice weekly until recently: not clear why it hasn't continued. All tests of both types that my family have taken have been negative.

58% accurate. The validity of them is certainly questionable. May as well toss a coin.