Free at home covid tests

[ureout]

The gov't site is up and running early... I just ordered the 4 free tests and it took about 45 seconds below is site

COVIDtests.gov - Free at-home COVID-19 tests (https://www.covidtests.gov/)

[golfing eagles]

The gov't site is up and running early... I just ordered the 4 free tests and it took about 45 seconds below is site

COVIDtests.gov - Free at-home COVID-19 tests (https://www.covidtests.gov/)

So now, the obvious question----Did you NEED them, or did you order them because they are "free"?

[ureout]

So now, the obvious question----Did you NEED them, or did you order them because they are "free"?

golfing eagles..
not that you deserve a reply but.. I ordered them because you cannot find them at any drug store in case they are needed ..if you were to watch the news that is exactly what they say to do....

[golfing eagles]

golfing eagles..
not that you deserve a reply but.. I ordered them because you cannot find them at any drug store in case they are needed ..if you were to watch the news that is exactly what they say to do....

Actually, I think I deserve a reply since I am paying for them. Nevertheless, thank you, I'm just trying to ascertain the reasoning behind ordering these tests.

[Jayhawk]

So now, the obvious question----Did you NEED them, or did you order them because they are "free"?

SInce they are not shipping until "late January" it appears most are getting them to be prepared. I did. No point in waiting until you might have COVID to request a test that takes a couple of weeks to ship.

[Stu from NYC]

We ordered them since folks we have come in contact with have become positive.

We need to know if we have it and need to quarantine to avoid infecting others.

[Stu from NYC]

golfing eagles..
not that you deserve a reply but.. I ordered them because you cannot find them at any drug store in case they are needed ..if you were to watch the news that is exactly what they say to do....

Wow that is a bit harsh.

[La lamy]

I've read the at home tests are not as sensitive as the PCR tests. If you know you've been exposed to Covid or feel sick, and the test comes back negative, I would isolate for at least 5 days, best you can. And no, I'm not a medical professional, so make up your own mind with your best recommendations and/or common sense.

[Bill14564]

I've read the at home tests are not as sensitive as the PCR tests. If you know you've been exposed to Covid or feel sick, and the test comes back negative, I would isolate for at least 5 days, best you can. And no, I'm not a medical professional, so make up your own mind with your best recommendations and/or common sense.

Not trying to be argumentative but just don't understand ...

If your plan is to isolate for five days after a negative test then why take the test at all?

[Bill14564]

So now, the obvious question----Did you NEED them, or did you order them because they are "free"?

I imagine the four I am getting will expire on my shelf. But, I now know that I have them if I ever do need them.

I'm sure I am paying for several of these through my taxes so at least one ought to come to my house.

[Willis56]

And if you do test positive and are really sick what then? Mononclonal antiboby treatment is scarce and it would be like winning the lottery if lucky enough to receive them.

[Bay Kid]

So now, the obvious question----Did you NEED them, or did you order them because they are "free"?

Because they are free! Well... prepaid by people paying taxes....

[golfing eagles]

Because they are free! Well... prepaid by people paying taxes....

You mean the 47%???:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[rustyp]

Willing to trade 4 covid test kits for dozen pro V1 golf balls.

[golfing eagles]

Willing to trade 4 covid test kits for dozen pro V1 golf balls.

And so it begins.........:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[shut the front door]

We ordered them since folks we have come in contact with have become positive.

We need to know if we have it and need to quarantine to avoid infecting others.

By the time you get these in February, it will be a little too late. Publix has plenty at the pharmacies I've been to recently.

[rjguilliams]

Please remember that there is nothing FREE from the government. "You" - "We" pay (usually double) for everything the government does. Also remember that most anything you get for free is worth what you pay for it.

[Byte1]

After thinking it over a bit, and being skeptical about the whole idea, I decided to get my allotment of tests. Why? Because even though my children test before coming to visit, we have them on hand just in case they can't and do wish to test. Also, if my spouse starts to feel ill, we can test to see if she needs medication, being as she is a cancer survivor and has other medical issues. I don't put much stock in these tests, but that is just my personality of not trusting everything someone tells me.
Another reason for getting the tests is that I paid for them via my taxes and I will have them on hand in case someone needs one that does not have one. Personally, I do not believe that I will ever become infected (I've never had the FLU) and even if infected, I doubt I would know it or have any symptoms. I will not use the test kit UNLESS I become really ill, and even then may think twice before using something that may not even be accurate. Sounds contradictory? Many folks are neither anti- or pro but actually in the gray area between in their opinions on this whole thing and how it is being handled.

[nn0wheremann]

I've read the at home tests are not as sensitive as the PCR tests. If you know you've been exposed to Covid or feel sick, and the test comes back negative, I would isolate for at least 5 days, best you can. And no, I'm not a medical professional, so make up your own mind with your best recommendations and/or common sense.
This happened to my son-in-law. He had a clinic appointment for a sinus infection. Took a home test which was negative. Got to the clinic, where they administered both rapid and PCR tests. Rapid test was positive. After a day of moving into the basement and explaining to the three year old that daddy was sick and no one could see him for five days the PCR test results came back, negative. I found the manual for the rapid test machine online. It defaults to positive if there is any anomaly in the sample, or the process.
The PCR test is, apparently the gold standard, the home test is OK, and the Rapid test only reliable if negative.
Nuts!

[bmarasco]

The obvious answer, we as a nation, seem to be avoiding ??
GET HEALTHY .. be healthy and stay healthy !!

Everything good in life will follow from there !!

[msilagy]

First of all taxpayers will pay for this - so free? I ordered 4 also as they are handy to have at home if you need them to check for COVID infections. It's being proactive to order these - however it's up to each person.

[mlmarr]

Willing to trade 4 covid test kits for dozen pro V1 golf balls.

absolutely .. lets trade to keep the over processed ones in tack :boom:

[rustyp]

Willing to trade 4 covid test kits for dozen pro V1 golf balls.

absolutely .. lets trade to keep the over processed ones in tack :boom:


There is one caveat to the trade - balls must have been washed in bleach.

[SeaCros]

Did I miss when they ever sent out at home test for the regular flu or the common cold? Seems to be another way to track folks and to continue to strike fear in people by the "positive" numbers rise. I am still looking for the number to be reported of "negative" test results.

[golfing eagles]

Did I miss when they ever sent out at home test for the regular flu or the common cold? Seems to be another way to track folks and to continue to strike fear in people by the "positive" numbers rise. I am still looking for the number to be reported of "negative" test results.

Not likely to find that. It doesn't fit the agenda

Also, don't remember mask mandates, or vaccine requirements for any previous viruses since polio. But then again, influenza ONLY kills 35-70,000 Americans/year, not 800,000 in 2 years. Must be a numbers game, I suppose

[Jerseygirl08]

I've read the at home tests are not as sensitive as the PCR tests. If you know you've been exposed to Covid or feel sick, and the test comes back negative, I would isolate for at least 5 days, best you can. And no, I'm not a medical professional, so make up your own mind with your best recommendations and/or common sense. La lamy, my thoughts exactly. Why even mess with those tests? I had covid in June, 2020 and my test was negative. That was before I got the two jabs. A year later, I got the jabs. Now, today, I'm sick again with ALMOST THE SAME SYMPTOMS. The symptoms I have are exactly the same as omicron symptoms. I will not get tested. I will isolate and stay quarantined for five days and wear a mask for five days. I was still wearing a mask in public places and will continue the same. Since I'm a nurse (retired this past Dec 31st - yippee!!) I did not have the luxury of staying home so I consider myself lucky. And, as GOLF said, the taxpayers are paying for those free tests people are ordering - and will likely not even use them. It's all turned into a money making scheme, I don't want to get started on that !!

[jimjamuser]

I've read the at home tests are not as sensitive as the PCR tests. If you know you've been exposed to Covid or feel sick, and the test comes back negative, I would isolate for at least 5 days, best you can. And no, I'm not a medical professional, so make up your own mind with your best recommendations and/or common sense.
That IS good common sense. I would add that, I personally, would quarantine for 10 days. Just because I am retired and need NOT go to work. That recommendation of about 5 days was an arbitrary time limit designed to keep the wheels of the economy chugging along. In SOME cases, 5 days is NOT enough - although it works in MOST cases. Even with tests, I believe that the individual does NOT KNOW for sure if he is recovered enough to go back to work INSIDE around other people.

[Miekies]

And they are not free. The government does not have their own money. They take from the tax payers and we paid for it. Nothing from the government is free.

[golfing eagles]

And they are not free. The government does not have their own money. They take from the tax payers and we paid for it. Nothing from the government is free.

“The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.” ― Adrian Rogers

[blueash]

I found the manual for the rapid test machine online. It defaults to positive if there is any anomaly in the sample, or the process.


I am doing my very best to stay up to date on this stuff as people ask me questions about it all the time. I have never heard of any test for any disease or condition that defaults to positive. I frankly would like you to provide the name of the product or better the website of the "manual for the rapid test machine" I strongly believe you are making this up and providing the reader with terribly bad information.
The reason a rapid test is rapid is that it does not require a "machine" any more than a pregnancy test does. You found that manual in your creative imagination, I suspect as it exists no where man. This is why so many people doubt the science and the evidence, because anonymous people on the internet can just post anything.

You can produce a false positive by intentinally not following the directions for the test and deliberately sabotaging it. For example adding adding fruit juice to the sample (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34418566/) can destroy the buffer creating a false positive. That is not a test design problem.

[Topspinmo]

And they are not free. The government does not have their own money. They take from the tax payers and we paid for it. Nothing from the government is free.


Or paid for.

[La lamy]

Not trying to be argumentative but just don't understand ...

If your plan is to isolate for five days after a negative test then why take the test at all?

Testing would be for confirmation of Covid but there are lots of false negative results. That's why I said if you feel sick or have been exposed to a Covid positive person, I would err on the safe side and try not to transmit anything to others.

[Medtrans]

La lamy, my thoughts exactly. Why even mess with those tests? I had covid in June, 2020 and my test was negative. That was before I got the two jabs. A year later, I got the jabs. Now, today, I'm sick again with ALMOST THE SAME SYMPTOMS. The symptoms I have are exactly the same as omicron symptoms. I will not get tested. I will isolate and stay quarantined for five days and wear a mask for five days. I was still wearing a mask in public places and will continue the same. Since I'm a nurse (retired this past Dec 31st - yippee!!) I did not have the luxury of staying home so I consider myself lucky. And, as GOLF said, the taxpayers are paying for those free tests people are ordering - and will likely not even use them. It's all turned into a money making scheme, I don't want to get started on that !!

My understanding is 5 days quarantine with a positive test and no symptoms, 10 days with positive test and symptoms. Isn’t that the current CDC recommendation?.

[GeriS]

By the time you get these in February, it will be a little too late. Publix has plenty at the pharmacies I've been to recently.
What sound advice are you talking about?

[Altavia]

This

I found the manual for the rapid test machine online. It defaults to positive if there is any anomaly in the sample, or the process.
The PCR test is, apparently the gold standard, the home test is OK, and the Rapid test only reliable if negative.
Nuts!

Not correct.

Positive results are highly reliable.

Abbott RapidID instructions indicate negative samples are inconclusive.

Improper sample collection is the primary cause of incorrect results.

https://www.fda.gov/media/136525/download

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Actually, I think I deserve a reply since I am paying for them. Nevertheless, thank you, I'm just trying to ascertain the reasoning behind ordering these tests.

Neato. I'm paying for them too. My tax dollars at work. Very grateful to have a system in which my taxes cover the expenses of the Greater Good, and the health and safety of everyone. They're planning on doing masks next. I'll be in line for those too.

[Spalumbos62]

Not trying to be argumentative but just don't understand ...

If your plan is to isolate for five days after a negative test then why take the test at all?

Ya know, I think about that allot...if I felt I had it, I would just isolate for the 5, but knowing for sure would also be good, just for possible future residual effects. But that being said, I would trust a home test and not stand kn line and possibly pass it on.

[Spalumbos62]

So now, the obvious question----Did you NEED them, or did you order them because they are "free"?


Don't be silly...of course they needed it...everyone needs one on hand. I believe that is the point....if you feel sick or possible exposure take the test.....and much better for all if it can be done at home....right?

[golfing eagles]

Don't be silly...of course they needed it...everyone needs one on hand. I believe that is the point....if you feel sick or possible exposure take the test.....and much better for all if it can be done at home....right?

Right. Except if you get a false negative. Sorry for being "silly"

[Dana1963]

I suspect this will be a novelty in the Villages after using the first 4. Then complain where are the next 4.

[Altavia]

Right. Except if you get a false negative. Sorry for being "silly"

The perfect is the enemy of the good...

[Spalumbos62]

Right. Except if you get a false negative. Sorry for being "silly"

That's ok....you are "silly" often. Lol

[JP]

So this "free test" is the beginning of not really knowing how many people test positive(IF we ever really did!). It's the governments way of beginning to turn this pandemic into an endemic.

[davem4616]

I'm tentatively planning a trip to Canada this summer....from what I can gather, Canada presently requires a negative test 72 hours prior to crossing....and on the return the US requires a negative test within 24 hours of crossing.

I'm curious if the results of these 'free' home tests will be accepted at the border by either government

seems to me an independent test may be required to cross back and forth....

has anyone heard if the 'free' tests will be accepted?

[Byte1]

I ordered my "FREE" test kits. If I had to pay for them (other than by taxes) I would not get them. If I thought that I had Covid, I would wear a mask and only venture out to procure essentials. I do not wear a mask and have never had the FLU so obviously I do not remain in close proximity to anyone that has been infected. I will doubtfully ever use the test kit, but will have it on hand for someone that is in "dire" need of testing. Like I said before, I have not been tested and will not plan to use the test kit. Anyone suggesting that I am wasting an order that someone else might need is being disingenuous because it is not my fault if the gov does not supply enough to go around. Besides that would be like saying a lot of folks are using welfare that should not get it and are using something that others might need more. That dog don't hunt.
Get your FREE test kits and enjoy the placebo effect of having a gov issued security blanket. The only thing a covid test kit is good for is to let your doctor know how to treat your illness (in my opinion). And you know what they say about everyone having an opinion, right?

[Two Bills]

I'm tentatively planning a trip to Canada this summer....from what I can gather, Canada presently requires a negative test 72 hours prior to crossing....and on the return the US requires a negative test within 24 hours of crossing.

I'm curious if the results of these 'free' home tests will be accepted at the border by either government

seems to me an independent test may be required to cross back and forth....

has anyone heard if the 'free' tests will be accepted?

By next summer all the rules will be different, one way or the other.
So really no point in worrying about procedures yet.
Here in UK we are giving up with the whole thing from next Thursday, all restrictions are to be lifted, and we are going to live with the bug. (Hopefully!)

[MDLNB]

Testing would be for confirmation of Covid but there are lots of false negative results. That's why I said if you feel sick or have been exposed to a Covid positive person, I would err on the safe side and try not to transmit anything to others.


There are a lot of "false" positive results on the tests also. So, the question is valid; why test at all if you don't trust the test? It's like taking a driving test where if you pass, you drive legally and if you fail you drive legally. Or, how about an eye test where if you fail you get new glasses and if you pass you still get glasses? But, I understand how you feel. I just don't see the reasoning for taking the test if you plan to treat yourself as if you have Covid even if the test comes back negative. Kind of like taking cold medicine, when you do not have a cold. Why not just skip the test and go right to treating yourself for Covid, even if you do not have symptoms?

[Jerseygirl08]

My understanding is 5 days quarantine with a positive test and no symptoms, 10 days with positive test and symptoms. Isn’t that the current CDC recommendation?. Medrans, my understanding was that it didn't matter if you had symptoms or not, . . . after 5 days at home, the new advice is to return to work wearing a mask for at least 5 days. Many people could have symptoms for several weeks, maybe more. I could be wrong, this is just my understanding. So I feel like I'd be safe to stay home for 5, and if I go out over the next 5 days, mask up. I've been masking up anyway. Funny thing for me is I usually get a cold that turns into bronchitis, maybe even pneumonia - once/yr. Past two plus years, until 5 days ago, I had none of it. And I even worked for the entirety of the pandemic. I attribute that to mask wearing. Don't know how else to explain it. So I'll stick with the masks for now.

[blueash]

There are a lot of "false" positive results on the tests also.


You are wrong. wrong. wrong. There are not a lot of false positive results. I don't know why it requires your scare quotes. As has already been pointed out in a recent study in Canada of nearly a million people with no Covid symptoms, there were 500 false positives out of nearly one million tests. That is an extremely good result. But you do you. Google is your friend.

Try "what is the rate of false positive results using rapid covid test" It will help you not post wrong information in the future. Or not.

[oldtimes]

You are wrong. wrong. wrong. There are not a lot of false positive results. I don't know why it requires your scare quotes. As has already been pointed out in a recent study in Canada of nearly a million people with no Covid symptoms, there were 500 false positives out of nearly one million tests. That is an extremely good result. But you do you. Google is your friend.

Try "what is the rate of false positive results using rapid covid test" It will help you not post wrong information in the future. Or not.

It is the false negatives that are the real problem. They will give people a false sense of security and they will feel free to walk around and infect whoever they come in contact with. Even an actual negative is only valid for a day.

[Boston1945]

Actually, I think I deserve a reply since I am paying for them. Nevertheless, thank you, I'm just trying to ascertain the reasoning behind ordering these tests.

From all the folks here in the USA...Thank you for paying for all the test kits.

[MDLNB]

You are wrong. wrong. wrong. There are not a lot of false positive results. I don't know why it requires your scare quotes. As has already been pointed out in a recent study in Canada of nearly a million people with no Covid symptoms, there were 500 false positives out of nearly one million tests. That is an extremely good result. But you do you. Google is your friend.

Try "what is the rate of false positive results using rapid covid test" It will help you not post wrong information in the future. Or not.


Hmm, suddenly 500 is a small number? And yet, something like 1% (guessing) of covid infections result in death, and that is considered too many? Who is setting the standard for what is a pertinent-alarming number and what is not? Every time I read one of these threads, I see a post where someone says that even one person dying from covid is serious and warns that "your friends or family" might be one of the fatalities of Covid.

How many times have you heard that someone received a false positive test result and then a negative test result? A lot more than false negative results, right?

[Altavia]

It is the false negatives that are the real problem. They will give people a false sense of security and they will feel free to walk around and infect whoever they come in contact with. Even an actual negative is only valid for a day.

If you read the instructions for use of antigen testing, the results are presumptive negative and need confirmation.

Interim Guidance for Antigen Testing for SARS-CoV-2 | CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/lab/resources/antigen-tests-guidelines.html)

"The sensitivity of current FDA-authorized antigen tests varies, and thus negative diagnostic testing results should be handled depending on the circumstances. In most circumstances, the manufacturers’ instructions for use of antigen tests indicate that negative test results should be considered “presumptive,” meaning that they are preliminary results. See FDA’s In Vitro Diagnostics EUA."

[oldtimes]

If you read the instructions for use of antigen testing, the results are presumptive negative and need confirmation.

Interim Guidance for Antigen Testing for SARS-CoV-2 | CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/lab/resources/antigen-tests-guidelines.html)

"The sensitivity of current FDA-authorized antigen tests varies, and thus negative diagnostic testing results should be handled depending on the circumstances. In most circumstances, the manufacturers’ instructions for use of antigen tests indicate that negative test results should be considered “presumptive,” meaning that they are preliminary results. See FDA’s In Vitro Diagnostics EUA."

And you believe that everyone will read these instructions or abide by them?
So whether or not you get a positive result you should be wearing a mask and social distancing anyway so then what is the point of the test?

[MDLNB]

You are wrong. wrong. wrong. There are not a lot of false positive results. I don't know why it requires your scare quotes. As has already been pointed out in a recent study in Canada of nearly a million people with no Covid symptoms, there were 500 false positives out of nearly one million tests. That is an extremely good result. But you do you. Google is your friend.

Try "what is the rate of false positive results using rapid covid test" It will help you not post wrong information in the future. Or not.


I stand corrected. I have found an interesting article somewhat related:
Potential for False Positive Results with Antigen Tests for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2 - Letter to Clinical Laboratory Staff and Health Care Providers | FDA (https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/letters-health-care-providers/potential-false-positive-results-antigen-tests-rapid-detection-sars-cov-2-letter-clinical-laboratory)

[blueash]

Hmm, suddenly 500 is a small number? And yet, something like 1% (guessing) of covid infections result in death, and that is considered too many? Who is setting the standard for what is a pertinent-alarming number and what is not? Every time I read one of these threads, I see a post where someone says that even one person dying from covid is serious and warns that "your friends or family" might be one of the fatalities of Covid.

How many times have you heard that someone received a false positive test result and then a negative test result? A lot more than false negative results, right?

to answer your question...
Wrong. There are almost zero false positive cases. And yes, 500 out of a million is a tiny number in testing.

To state the obvious, every person who has covid and does not die from it will at some point go from being test positive to test negative. They get better. That is not a false positive. So if some talking head tells you that he knows 100 people who tested positive then later tested negative.... he is telling the truth and lying at the same time as the statement is totally misleading.

I will surmise you neither understand statistics nor have the ability to follow medical literature. I will try to educate you..

The home tests are much like a pregnancy test, if you are familiar with those. A sample is collected, the test kit does its thing. It tells you positive or negative. Here is a summary of the outcome and how you should use it..

If your test is positive, you absolutely should believe it. The chance of an error if you followed the directions is tiny. If you are low risk, you need to isolate yourself and inform your contacts that they were exposed to you.

If your test is negative then I want to know why you did the test? If you were exposed, test again in about five days or if you develop symptoms sooner. The test will be negative early in your disease. It requires a lot more virus to be in your nose than the PCR test needs. If you test too soon it will be negative. The rapid test is excellent if used on people who have significant covid symptoms. That is because they have a lot of virus in their nose at the time.

If you are doing the test because you have been exposed please do all of us a favor and still try to minimize our exposure to you. Stay home if possible. Wear a mask if you need to be around others.

If you are doing the test because you have Covid symptoms and are low risk you're telling me you are sick already so stay home. If mild wait a couple days then test. If moderate but obviously not severe symptoms, test today. A negative result in that situation is comforting but not conclusive.

There is a good but not great correlation between how contagious you are and how many virus particles are in your nose. If you test negative you are less likely to be contagious to others even if you actually have covid. NOTE less likely not unlikely. A person with PCR positive Covid is contagious even if their rapid test is negative as the PCR detects cases with lower levels of virus in their nose.


Lastly.... If you are counting on getting the super expensive monoclonal antibodies to save you. Regeneron which is the product manufacturer our governor is pushing has been shown to likely NOT BE EFFECTIVE against omicron. The manufacturer is working to produce a new product they hope will work. Of course no monoclonal Covid product has FDA full approval. You do remember all those posts where people said they wouldn't take a shot because it was still experimental and only had emergency use authorization... That's what the antibody products are, emergency authorized only.

[oldtimes]

to answer your question...
Wrong. There are almost zero false positive cases. And yes, 500 out of a million is a tiny number in testing.

To state the obvious, every person who has covid and does not die from it will at some point go from being test positive to test negative. They get better. That is not a false positive. So if some talking head tells you that he knows 100 people who tested positive then later tested negative.... he is telling the truth and lying at the same time as the statement is totally misleading.

I will surmise you neither understand statistics nor have the ability to follow medical literature. I will try to educate you..

The home tests are much like a pregnancy test, if you are familiar with those. A sample is collected, the test kit does its thing. It tells you positive or negative. Here is a summary of the outcome and how you should use it..

If your test is positive, you absolutely should believe it. The chance of an error if you followed the directions is tiny. If you are low risk, you need to isolate yourself and inform your contacts that they were exposed to you.

If your test is negative then I want to know why you did the test? If you were exposed, test again in about five days or if you develop symptoms sooner. The test will be negative early in your disease. It requires a lot more virus to be in your nose than the PCR test needs. If you test too soon it will be negative. The rapid test is excellent if used on people who have significant covid symptoms. That is because they have a lot of virus in their nose at the time.

If you are doing the test because you have been exposed please do all of us a favor and still try to minimize our exposure to you. Stay home if possible. Wear a mask if you need to be around others.

If you are doing the test because you have Covid symptoms and are low risk you're telling me you are sick already so stay home. If mild wait a couple days then test. If moderate but obviously not severe symptoms, test today. A negative result in that situation is comforting but not conclusive.

There is a good but not great correlation between how contagious you are and how many virus particles are in your nose. If you test negative you are less likely to be contagious to others even if you actually have covid. NOTE less likely not unlikely. A person with PCR positive Covid is contagious even if their rapid test is negative as the PCR detects cases with lower levels of virus in their nose.


Lastly.... If you are counting on getting the super expensive monoclonal antibodies to save you. Regeneron which is the product manufacturer our governor is pushing has been shown to likely NOT BE EFFECTIVE against omicron. The manufacturer is working to produce a new product they hope will work. Of course no monoclonal Covid product has FDA full approval. You do remember all those posts where people said they wouldn't take a shot because it was still experimental and only had emergency use authorization... That's what the antibody products are, emergency authorized only.

I absolutely agree with all of this, my only reservation is the very great likelihood of it being used improperly by people who get their information from Dr Google.

[Altavia]

to answer your question...
Wrong. There are almost zero false positive cases. And yes, 500 out of a million is a tiny number in testing.

To state the obvious, every person who has covid and does not die from it will at some point go from being test positive to test negative. They get better. That is not a false positive. So if some talking head tells you that he knows 100 people who tested positive then later tested negative.... he is telling the truth and lying at the same time as the statement is totally misleading.

I will surmise you neither understand statistics nor have the ability to follow medical literature. I will try to educate you..

The home tests are much like a pregnancy test, if you are familiar with those. A sample is collected, the test kit does its thing. It tells you positive or negative. Here is a summary of the outcome and how you should use it..

If your test is positive, you absolutely should believe it. The chance of an error if you followed the directions is tiny. If you are low risk, you need to isolate yourself and inform your contacts that they were exposed to you.

If your test is negative then I want to know why you did the test? If you were exposed, test again in about five days or if you develop symptoms sooner. The test will be negative early in your disease. It requires a lot more virus to be in your nose than the PCR test needs. If you test too soon it will be negative. The rapid test is excellent if used on people who have significant covid symptoms. That is because they have a lot of virus in their nose at the time.

If you are doing the test because you have been exposed please do all of us a favor and still try to minimize our exposure to you. Stay home if possible. Wear a mask if you need to be around others.

If you are doing the test because you have Covid symptoms and are low risk you're telling me you are sick already so stay home. If mild wait a couple days then test. If moderate but obviously not severe symptoms, test today. A negative result in that situation is comforting but not conclusive.

There is a good but not great correlation between how contagious you are and how many virus particles are in your nose. If you test negative you are less likely to be contagious to others even if you actually have covid. NOTE less likely not unlikely. A person with PCR positive Covid is contagious even if their rapid test is negative as the PCR detects cases with lower levels of virus in their nose.


Lastly.... If you are counting on getting the super expensive monoclonal antibodies to save you. Regeneron which is the product manufacturer our governor is pushing has been shown to likely NOT BE EFFECTIVE against omicron. The manufacturer is working to produce a new product they hope will work. Of course no monoclonal Covid product has FDA full approval. You do remember all those posts where people said they wouldn't take a shot because it was still experimental and only had emergency use authorization... That's what the antibody products are, emergency authorized only.

Thank you.

It would be very helpful if a communication as clear as this were provided to the public with the test kits.

[Altavia]

And you believe that everyone will read these instructions or abide by them?
So whether or not you get a positive result you should be wearing a mask and social distancing anyway so then what is the point of the test?

I agree how to interpret and and react to the results has been poorly communicated.

This post helped me.

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/2052307-post68.html

[golfing eagles]

to answer your question...
Wrong. There are almost zero false positive cases. And yes, 500 out of a million is a tiny number in testing.

To state the obvious, every person who has covid and does not die from it will at some point go from being test positive to test negative. They get better. That is not a false positive. So if some talking head tells you that he knows 100 people who tested positive then later tested negative.... he is telling the truth and lying at the same time as the statement is totally misleading.

I will surmise you neither understand statistics nor have the ability to follow medical literature. I will try to educate you..

The home tests are much like a pregnancy test, if you are familiar with those. A sample is collected, the test kit does its thing. It tells you positive or negative. Here is a summary of the outcome and how you should use it..

If your test is positive, you absolutely should believe it. The chance of an error if you followed the directions is tiny. If you are low risk, you need to isolate yourself and inform your contacts that they were exposed to you.

If your test is negative then I want to know why you did the test? If you were exposed, test again in about five days or if you develop symptoms sooner. The test will be negative early in your disease. It requires a lot more virus to be in your nose than the PCR test needs. If you test too soon it will be negative. The rapid test is excellent if used on people who have significant covid symptoms. That is because they have a lot of virus in their nose at the time.

If you are doing the test because you have been exposed please do all of us a favor and still try to minimize our exposure to you. Stay home if possible. Wear a mask if you need to be around others.

If you are doing the test because you have Covid symptoms and are low risk you're telling me you are sick already so stay home. If mild wait a couple days then test. If moderate but obviously not severe symptoms, test today. A negative result in that situation is comforting but not conclusive.

There is a good but not great correlation between how contagious you are and how many virus particles are in your nose. If you test negative you are less likely to be contagious to others even if you actually have covid. NOTE less likely not unlikely. A person with PCR positive Covid is contagious even if their rapid test is negative as the PCR detects cases with lower levels of virus in their nose.


Lastly.... If you are counting on getting the super expensive monoclonal antibodies to save you. Regeneron which is the product manufacturer our governor is pushing has been shown to likely NOT BE EFFECTIVE against omicron. The manufacturer is working to produce a new product they hope will work. Of course no monoclonal Covid product has FDA full approval. You do remember all those posts where people said they wouldn't take a shot because it was still experimental and only had emergency use authorization... That's what the antibody products are, emergency authorized only.

Agree with everything after the first paragraph. I'm pretty sure you understand true and false positives and negatives, sensitivity, specificity and predictive value. I also understand you are trying to make a point about the low false positivity rate of antigen tests, but your premise is both right and wrong at the same time. Let's just round off the numbers from the Canadian study you cited for argument's sake:

There were 500 false positive out of 1 million total tests, so yes the false positive rate is extremely low. However, somebody taking a home test and getting a positive result couldn't care less about the 999,500 negatives. There were only 1500 positives in the study, so 500 of them being false is HUGE. That tells the person who tested him/herself that 1/3 of the time their result of having COVID is WRONG, and they don't have it.

You know that sensitivity and specificity are highly dependent on the population tested. Take for instance a standard Bruce Protocol ETT performed on 18 year old Olympic athletes. The test has a known 10% false positive rate, yet in that test group there will be 100% false positives since none of them really have CAD. Likewise do the same test, which also has a 10% false negative rate, on a group of 60 year old type A sedentary business executives who are 100# overweight, diabetic, hypertensive, and get crushing substernal chest pain radiating to their left arm and jaw with nausea and diaphoresis every time they walk 6 feet and there will pretty much be a 100% false negative rate.

I think we agree in principle that the false positive rate of home COVID test is probably pretty low, but we also have to approach the data carefully and pose the right question. This is why I think that Canadian study needs to be repeated, perhaps in the US. The extremely low number of positives is really unbelievable, even accounting for more stringent Canadian measures at containing COVID, and that low number skews the rest of the data.

The real problem remains the upwards of 20% false negatives----bottom line the home test, assuming all positives self isolate, will still only keep 80% of those with active COVID out of circulation

[JMintzer]

My understanding is 5 days quarantine with a positive test and no symptoms, 10 days with positive test and symptoms. Isn’t that the current CDC recommendation?.

Don't try to figure it out.... It'll change by next week...

[JMintzer]

Free TESTS, shots, and masks are all SAVING the taxpayer money. Because any LONG hospital stay in ICU is going to cost society 100 times as much as TESTS, shots, and masks. People would NOT be happy if ALL Hospitals went bankrupt. It's one BIG disease PREVENTION campaign.

Except that LONG hospital says and ICU admission are dropping like a stone...

I'd wager that most of these tests being ordered will expire before they're used...

[JMintzer]

Neato. I'm paying for them too. My tax dollars at work. Very grateful to have a system in which my taxes cover the expenses of the Greater Good, and the health and safety of everyone. They're planning on doing masks next. I'll be in line for those too.

Can't wait until we have to line up for food... For the "greater good", of course...

[Altavia]

I'd wager that most of these tests being ordered will expire before they're used...

Very likely.

Shelf life for similar assays is longer if stored refrigerated but have seen no data for these tests.

[Gulfcoast]

I hate to say this, but the Covid tests involve multiple steps and that means there is room for error. There are going to be A LOT of false negatives with these home test. People testing themselves at home will find ways to get the result they want that day. Maybe they can't afford to miss a work shift, maybe they want a 5 day break from work, maybe they want to be able to participate in a particular event. It's easy enough to "accidentally" screw the test up or misread the results.

[NoMoSno]

I don't have much confidence USPS will be able to handle delivering all these packages.
Still waiting for a package mailed last month, and it was not free shipping.

[Two Bills]

Very likely.

Shelf life for similar assays is longer if stored refrigerated but have seen no data for these tests.

If the tests you receive are the same tests my grandson used (Rapid Antigen Tests} at school, they have a two year shelf life.
All UK school kids were tested twice (two times) a week.
We have test kits coming out of our ears, they gave so many away.
There are seven tests to a box!

[Two Bills]

I hate to say this, but the Covid tests involve multiple steps and that means there is room for error. There are going to be A LOT of false negatives with these home test. People testing themselves at home will find ways to get the result they want that day. Maybe they can't afford to miss a work shift, maybe they want a 5 day break from work, maybe they want to be able to participate in a particular event. It's easy enough to "accidentally" screw the test up or misread the results.

The majority of false negatives are human error, and mainly caused by failure to shove the swab stick far enough up the nose.
The actual procedure after using the swab stick is simple and self explanatory.

[Taurus510]

So now, the obvious question----Did you NEED them, or did you order them because they are "free"?

Actually, you’ve already paid for them. Last April 15.

[golfing eagles]

The majority of false negatives are human error, and mainly caused by failure to shove the swab stick far enough up the nose.
The actual procedure after using the swab stick is simple and self explanatory.

But now, with this morning's action by the FDA, some interesting questions are raised:

***Are those that rejected receiving a safe, proven, effective, approved vaccine in favor of running to an ineffective and unapproved monoclonal antibody treatment center going to rethink their strategy now that those sites are permanently closed?

***Are those unvaccinated individuals who were first on the website to order their home COVID tests so they could then run to a monoclonal infusion site if positive having second thoughts?

***And thirdly, now that the sites are closed, are we going to get our movie theaters at Brownwood back and used for the purpose they were intended????

[Swoop]

But now, with this morning's action by the FDA, some interesting questions are raised:

***Are those that rejected receiving a safe, proven, effective, approved vaccine in favor of running to an ineffective and unapproved monoclonal antibody treatment center going to rethink their strategy now that those sites are permanently closed?

***Are those unvaccinated individuals who were first on the website to order their home COVID tests so they could then run to a monoclonal infusion site if positive having second thoughts?

***And thirdly, now that the sites are closed, are we going to get our movie theaters at Brownwood back and used for the purpose they were intended????

Safe, effective, proven vaccines? Really?
Show me one long term study on the safety of any mRNA vaccine.
Effective? Cruise ships with fully vaccinated crews and passengers are testing positive at a rate similar to the general US population and the residents of Portugal who are 95% vaccinated have a per capita case rate 2X the US.

[golfing eagles]

Safe, effective, proven vaccines? Really?
Show me one long term study on the safety of any mRNA vaccine.
Effective? Cruise ships with fully vaccinated crews and passengers are testing positive at a rate similar to the general US population and the residents of Portugal who are 95% vaccinated have a per capita case rate 2X the US.

Yes, really.

I can show you 1 1/2 year studies on safety, since that is about how long mRNA have been widely used. However the technology has been studied for 20 years.

As far as efficacy goes, as long as we continue to count a positive test result as a "case", nothing is going to be effective. Much better to look at hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths, which tell the real story.

Sorry to disagree with some anti-vax web site.

[Swoop]

Yes, really.

I can show you 1 1/2 year studies on safety, since that is about how long mRNA have been widely used. However the technology has been studied for 20 years.

As far as efficacy goes, as long as we continue to count a positive test result as a "case", nothing is going to be effective. Much better to look at hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths, which tell the real story.

Sorry to disagree with some anti-vax web site.
1.5 years does NOT qualify as a long term study, you of all people should be aware of that.
Sorry to spoil your diversion attempt, but none of that data came from an “anti-vax site”…

[Wyseguy]

But now, with this morning's action by the FDA, some interesting questions are raised:

***Are those that rejected receiving a safe, proven, effective, approved vaccine in favor of running to an ineffective and unapproved monoclonal antibody treatment center going to rethink their strategy now that those sites are permanently closed?

***Are those unvaccinated individuals who were first on the website to order their home COVID tests so they could then run to a monoclonal infusion site if positive having second thoughts?

***And thirdly, now that the sites are closed, are we going to get our movie theaters at Brownwood back and used for the purpose they were intended????

Why would the federal government pull authorization for these monoclonal antibodies? Were they proven to be dangerous?

[golfing eagles]

1.5 years does NOT qualify as a long term study, you of all people should be aware of that.
Sorry to spoil your diversion attempt, but none of that data came from an “anti-vax site”…

Maybe not, but it sure sounds like it

BTW, there were no "long term" studies for polio vaccine either

[golfing eagles]

Why would the federal government pull authorization for these monoclonal antibodies? Were they proven to be dangerous?

No, not dangerous. Just totally ineffective---might just as well take snake oil. Or so the FDA narrative goes.......If we want a different answer, we might have to wait until tomorrow:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[Swoop]

Maybe not, but it sure sounds like it

BTW, there were no "long term" studies for polio vaccine either

So if actual facts don’t align with your opinion, then they must be from an extremist website…
Polio vaccine - Bad example. The polio vaccine is a traditionally derived vaccine, just like virtually every other vaccine given to humans. mRNA technology is an unproven technology that was rushed to market. It’s been learn as they go. Sort of like a drug trial….

[oldtimes]

So if actual facts don’t align with your opinion, then they must be from an extremist website…
Polio vaccine - Bad example. The polio vaccine is a traditionally derived vaccine, just like virtually every other vaccine given to humans. mRNA technology is an unproven technology that was rushed to market. It’s been learn as they go. Sort of like a drug trial….

Isn’t that what a long term study is?

[blueash]

Why would the federal government pull authorization for these monoclonal antibodies? Were they proven to be dangerous?

The antibodies were approved after a few studies showed benefit in Delta and earlier varieties of Covid. And like all products the CDC continues to evaluate. This is especially true as none of the products were fully approved and were allowed to be used under emergency use authorization.

With the emergence of Omicron, all the studies have agreed that both Regeneron and the Eli Lilly similar product do NOT WORK on Omicron. Almost all the disease in the community is Omicron. This is not just the CDC saying it doesn't work... The manufacturers have said it doesn't work. Our governor of course disagrees because he knows more about campaign contributions and his own ego which has pushed this therapy while ignoring pushing vaccines.

If you really care here are several links to up to date literature:

An infectious SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 Omicron virus escapes neutralization by therapeutic monoclonal antibodies | Nature Medicine (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-021-01678-y) which concludes
"Several mAbs (LY-CoV555, LY-CoV016, REGN10933, REGN10987 and CT-P59) completely lost neutralizing activity against B.1.1.529 virus "

In vitro evaluation of therapeutic antibodies against a SARS-CoV-2 Omicron B.1.1.529 isolate | bioRxiv (https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.01.474639v1.abstract)
"We observed that six of these antibodies have lost their ability to neutralize the Omicron variant."

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.jcim.1c01451
"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) from Eli Lilly may be seriously compromised. Omicron may also diminish the efficacy of mAbs from AstraZeneca, Regeneron mAb cocktail, Celltrion, and Rockefeller University."

The stuff does not work well enough if at all and the emergency use has been withdrawn. As to whether it is dangerous... We of course do not have any long term studies and this is the first group of products ever to be allowed using a new technology in their development and use, right? This is the first AFAIK monoclonal antibody ever approved for treatment of a viral infection. There are several Covid vaccines that have never been allowed in the US. Because while they may help a tiny bit, they don't work well enough to be used. Like the one from China.

There is something that works really well to keep you from being hospitalized or dying from Omicron. It's not Regeneron.

[golfing eagles]

So if actual facts don’t align with your opinion, then they must be from an extremist website…
Polio vaccine - Bad example. The polio vaccine is a traditionally derived vaccine, just like virtually every other vaccine given to humans. mRNA technology is an unproven technology that was rushed to market. It’s been learn as they go. Sort of like a drug trial….

Whatever. Just realize when we first started to understand viruses and make vaccines, there were no "traditional" vaccines, so it was a new technology and the comparison is valid. And if you think what you posted were "actual facts", well, res ipsa loquitur.

[Swoop]

Whatever. Just realize when we first started to understand viruses and make vaccines, there were no "traditional" vaccines, so it was a new technology and the comparison is valid. And if you think what you posted were "actual facts", well, res ipsa loquitur.
You brought up polio. By the time the polio vaccine was introduced there were many predecessors that used “traditional” technology.

Interesting, what “fact” that I stated are you disputing?!?
Just because it doesn’t fit your mantra, doesn’t make it untrue…

[MDLNB]

It's interesting that they are shutting down the antibody treatment because for the Omnicron version of this virus it does not work. But, since the way it was explained to me, the antibody treatment was actually derived from anitbodies that were extracted and then duplicated many times, from the Covid19 plus Delta, how is it that they don't discontinue the shots also, since those technically(?) shouldn't have any effect on Omnicron either? Hey, I am just asking and not trying to be a smart @$$. And a possible answer to my own question is that maybe they are continuing the boosters so that the first versions of Covid19 don't come back. Just a suggestion.
I have family that were tested positive for Covid and we believe (since the test doesn't tell which one) that they have the Omnicron, since their only symptoms are a sore throat and sinus infection. They still have taste and smell and no fever. They were told to quarantine for five days and then wear a mask for five days. They are being treated with antibiotics for their sinus infection. They could not find anywhere to get tested, so they called Urgent Care and a team was dispatched to their home and tested them. Of course, they tested positive. Guess it would have been nice if they would have had the free home test kits.

[Altavia]

Fact Check: Is the Regeneron Treatment the Same As Getting a COVID Vaccine? (https://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-regeneron-treatment-same-getting-covid-vaccine-1621093)

Monoclonal antibodies work by directly administering antibodies—molecules produced by the body's immune system that target viruses and stop them from making us ill.

The antibodies used in monoclonal antibody treatments are made in a lab, because scientists know what sort of antibodies work against COVID.

Vaccines, on the other hand, work by administering an inactive version of the virus it is trying to prevent—in this case COVID—which trains the body to produce its own antibodies in response.

The two treatments are not the same.

The difference between vaccines and monoclonal antibodies is that a vaccine will train the body to battle future infections while monoclonal antibodies can be used to immediately treat an existing infection.

Dr. Sushila Kataria, senior director of internal medicine at Indian private hospital Medanta, has said monoclonal antibodies work as soon as they are given. Vaccines offer protection one to two weeks after they are given.

But according to the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) COVID Vaccine Facts website, monoclonal antibodies are not likely to last as long as the protection from a vaccine.

And according to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, both monoclonal antibodies and vaccines should be used in society's battle against COVID; the former to treat infected people and the latter to stop people getting infected in the first place.