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What’s the point?

(7 Posts)
Newquay Tue 07-Sept-21 10:27:03

DH and I have been doing lateral flow tests for some time-you know, the ones you pick up free? We do them before we go anywhere and when we come back eg just been to visit DD2 a couple of hours away.
Then we’ve heard of two couples who had tested about 3/4 times-negative. They then developed a cough/sore throat so went for a PCR test-positive!
So what’s the point of doing the lateral flow tests if they’re not reliable?

nanna8 Tue 07-Sept-21 10:29:11

Guess that is why they seem to be resisting getting them here. A bit of a worry, isn’t it ? We still have to queue up for hours sometimes to get tested.

rosie1959 Tue 07-Sept-21 10:51:06

They are only an indicator never been reported as 100% but if they pick up a few cases then surely that has to be beneficial
Fortunately now we do not have to queue up for PCR tests either they are readily available My husband called at 7.30/am the test was done at 9.30

Peasblossom Tue 07-Sept-21 10:53:07

It’s not the tests that aren’t reliable, it’s the people who do them. I guess they just couldn’t bring themselves to get the stick up far enough.

Stopping when it tickles doesn’t work ?

henetha Tue 07-Sept-21 10:55:46

I've tried them and can't get any result. So I suppose I'm not sticking the thing into my nose far enough. I'll try again.

Peasblossom Tue 07-Sept-21 11:08:09

My nephew (a doctor) says it has to go so far up the next stop is your brain?

When it says “until you encounter resistance’ it mean something solid, not resistance to having something up your nose?

Grannynannywanny Tue 07-Sept-21 11:08:40

I heard a doctor discussing this topic on the radio a few days ago. The lateral flow tests are designed to pick up positive cases who are symptom free and unaware that they are circulating in the community and spreading it. I think she said they are 90% successful in doing so. But she stressed that are not for use by anyone who has even mild symptoms and those cases should be booking a PCR at a test centre.