Lateral flow tests

That'll be all, something stuck up my nose where it'll cause a nose-bleed which will either stop or it won't because of blasted warfarin again ( rolls eyes ) dependent on clotting time.

The point is that even if everybody does do the lateral flow test properly (very unlikely)the results are not to be trusted!As I have said before it apparently only picks up a high level of infection so somebody could come into our care home,test negative on the lateral flow but still have a low level infection and bring it in to our vulnerable people but saying that thankfully all staff and residents have had the vaccine.... although as we know that is not necessarily going to stop an infection being passed on just have to keep our fingers crossed which will probably be as much help as the lateral flow test!...?‍♀️

I really do wonder how many of secondary school pupils do these tests twice a week properly. Very, very few I suspect. NO idea why they have been told to continue with this during their school holidays.

I feel that these LFT's are just there rather like the Emperors New Robes, to make us think everything is being done to keep everyone safe. I am sure the money could be spent far better.

Margiknot

I agree Suzie and Shinamae. The message needs to be clearer. The government website for reporting a negative LFT does say ‘ you probably don’t have Covid’ or something similar. I wonder if a more reliable easy to use test will become available?

That would be the holy grail wouldn’t it? There must be lots of research going on as it would be a real money spinner. Can you imagine one that just relied on saliva for example?

I agree Suzie and Shinamae. The message needs to be clearer. The government website for reporting a negative LFT does say ‘ you probably don’t have Covid’ or something similar. I wonder if a more reliable easy to use test will become available?

Doing it on Jeremy Vine now, the test....

suziewoozie

I agree that it will pick up some people. My concern is that they are now to be very widely available and people are being sold the idea that a negative LFT means you don’t have Covid. That’s not true. The messaging is ( deliberately?) not clear.

Exactly SuzieW....?‍♀️

Well my worry is that I did the test properly had been doing it for weeks twice a week at home, and if you don’t do the test correctly it shows you and you have to do it again. My concern is testing negative with those tests when I had tested positive with the PCR. My belief is that the lateral flow test only pick up if you have a high infection rate,people are going to be coming in our care homes which obviously is a good thing to see their relatives but I have no faith in these tests I’m afraid and hope Full PPE and only holding hands will help because the last thing we need is this virus ripping through our care home AGAIN!

If it says Negative why wouldn’t it be true ( unless it’s a false negative) asymptomatic sufferers will show a positive test result, if it’s done properly, wont they?
Otherwise what is the point?
I’m more concerned that it won’t be done properly. DD had one done before she went into Hospital and she said it was so very painful when they put the stick up her nose, so I’m assuming that it was done in the proper way, I can’t see many people wanting to hurt themselves twice a week.

I agree that it will pick up some people. My concern is that they are now to be very widely available and people are being sold the idea that a negative LFT means you don’t have Covid. That’s not true. The messaging is ( deliberately?) not clear.

We ( nhs staff) have been told to use the LFT to check regularly for asymptomatic Covid, but if we have symptoms we have to book a PCR test. My understanding is that LFT pick up people shedding significant virus so in theory can at least stop some of the asymptomatic carriers unknowingly spreading it to others. I guess anything that helps working people who mix with others ( or school children) know when they need to self isolate helps reduce the potential for spread, even if LFT miss some affected people.

I’ve just read what I’ve posted and that’s muddled as well. I think I mean, if you actually have Covid but are asymptomatic, many such cases will not test positive with a LFT

The debate about LFT seems completely muddled. I’m left with the impression that they are only helpful if you are symptomatic but we know many people are asymptomatic. Also, carrying out the test properly seems understandably to matter. Personally, I don’t understand the faith that seems to be placed in them.