Does anyone test for Covid anymore?

Cariad and M0nica
A quick dip into Google scholar brings this up:
^
Generation of False-Positive SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Results with Testing Conditions outside Manufacturer Recommendations: A Scientific Approach to Pandemic Misinformation^

journals.asm.org/doi/full/10.1128/spectrum.00683-21

Basically a rebuttal to "fake news" "berry" testing.
The likely explanation of these artifacts is nonspecific interactions between the SARS-CoV-2-specific conjugated and capture antibodies, as proteinase K treatment abrogated this phenomenon, and thermal shift assays showed pH-induced conformational changes under conditions promoting artifact formation. Omitting, altering, and reverse engineering the kit buffer all supported the importance of maintaining buffering capacity, ionic strength, and pH for accurate kit function.

There may be more. But this looks pretty thorough to me.

watermeadow

I thought we were supposed to treat Covid like flu. It’s always going to be around and vaccination means it is rarely serious if we do catch it.

Do you mean to minimise the possible impact of covid, or flu, especially on the clinically vulnerable? I’ve been fortunate and avoided it so far
I last had flu over the millenium. It was dreadful and secondary chest infection meant blood tests that raised concerns about my ability to fight it. I was off work four weeks and recovery wasn’t speedy.

watermeadow

I thought we were supposed to treat Covid like flu. It’s always going to be around and vaccination means it is rarely serious if we do catch it.

Yes.. but dad had pneumonia on top & Alzheimer’s so my mum & dad isolated, I didn’t go near, only to tip off shopping

I thought we were supposed to treat Covid like flu. It’s always going to be around and vaccination means it is rarely serious if we do catch it.

Still have some tests (out of date but showed up dads covid), I didn’t test positive but mums came up as positive a few days later.

I think most supermarkets sell the tests too.

It's five in a pack

Aveline

I think there are 10 in the Boots pack.

That's good value.

Touch wood I've not had Covid but I've had the jab - and any other jab that's available such as flu

I think there are 10 in the Boots pack.

We’ve bought the multi packs from Boots. I think it is useful to have some in, particularly during the winter when we will be mixing inside more.
Hospital appt reminders still ask you not to attend with any covid symptoms.

They are £2 for a single test in Savers.

The test kits are £9 in Boots

You can just walk into a pharmacy and buy them. DH bought a pack when we had our winter jabs, just before we went on holiday a few weeks ago.

While on holiday he went down with a respiratory bug and was able to do a COVID test immediately, which confirmed that he did not have COVID.

Are Covid test packs easily available? Must be more than a year since I saw them on shelves in the chemists.I had to dispose of a pack as they were out of date. If I suspect Covid would a pharmacy deliver a test kit as I would not want to go out until I was sure I was clear.

“Just a variation of the cold virus” Hmm tell that to my daughters friend, a woman in her mid forties and formerly a GP. She caught covid in the early days pre vaccine and is now living with ongoing heart problems, akin to heart failure. She is very immune suppressed, no longer able to work and family life for her husband and 2 young sons has changed beyond measure.

I developed recurring digestive / bowel problems as a result of covid 18 months ago, and lost a lot of weight through it over the following six months or more.
Before that, my bmi was perfect for my height. Although I have slowly regained some of that weight, I am still borderline underweight. This has never happened to me after a common cold!

While some of the symptoms of Covid overlap with those of a common cold, they really are two very different things.

Iam64

It really isn’t like a cold virus. Long Covid can be life changing.

I had long covid for four months, and I was one of the lucky ones. I’ve never had a cold, or flu, for four months …

It really isn’t like a cold virus. Long Covid can be life changing.

“just a variation of the cold virus”
If only!
Admittedly they are both viruses but the common cold is usually caused by the rhinovirus and Covid is caused by SARS-Covid-19 virus.
Admittedly symptoms may appear similar, but in some people covid will be much more serious.

I don’t test anymore but the bottom line is, if I have a ‘bad cold’ or any such thing I would stay out of the way of others. Covid is just a variation of the cold virus and I would always be mindful of others if I’m ill. It’s the polite thing to do. Wouldn’t visit an elderly or vulnerable person with any illness. Just common sense.

My husband is clinically vulnerable so we wear masks in crowded places, look for airy venues with increased ventilation and always test if we have symptoms. A single lateral flow test from Boots is about £2 and presently 5 FFP2 masks cost £2,99 from there i.e. half price.
UKHSA still produce data on a regular basis and COVID levels are stable at present but as high as they were in the summer. Christina Pagel, Sheenagh Cruickshank and Bob Hawkins, all respected scientists and statisticians tweet regularly with understandable information. Elderly people still are admitted disproportionately to hospital and in very young babies infection has never improved. Regional differences in cases exist, the NE and West Midlands are higher at the moment. There's lots of advice and good practice available. Serial COVID is not a joke.

I don't test for covid anymore, my tests are out of date now. I had a cold a few weeks ago, lots of things planned which I cancelled. I stayed at home going nowhere for almost a fortnight. The one thing covid has taught me is how quickly colds/viruses spread. No way am I going to be responsible for spreading even the common cold. Call me a meanie but I definitely don't want to have to share my germs with anyone!

I’m vulnerable and so are the people we care for, so yes, we test. My brother and a sister both had Covid this year and were very ill with it. In fact my brother is currently living with us as he needs care after succumbing to Long Covid. 🥺

Yes when I have any weird symptoms other than the things I have wrong with me . Not just for my peace of mind but because I mix with other disabled people plus many disabilities are hidden and I travel on the bus a lot . Would hate to infect a vulnerable person.