Lateral flow tests

When my son in law took the tests, he knew he had Covid because of his work and the symptoms and therefore he was already isolating.
Sadly to me, he and my daughter and their family have now left for New Zealand due to working under the extreme stress of working in the NHS through this crisis. Not the point of the thread I know, but very sad for us as we miss them so much. Two fewer doctors in the NHS now.

He little son had a cold last week.

Yes I agree Alegrias, any symptoms do a test quickly. My son did two this week as he had symptoms but they both said negative. We think he’s just got a cold.

No, that's wrong, posted too soon. Likelihood of a false negative is 25%. Still 1 in 4 though.

Wish I'd never started now

Likelihood of a false negative: 75%. 1 in 4. Likelihood of two false negatives one after the other: 56%? so nearly 50:50. Somebody better than me at stats will correct me if I'm wrong about two in a row.

If anyone thinks they have COVID, they need to get a PCR test.

Incidentally these tests are probably useful for people who go to work every day, especially if not yet vaccinated or only partly vaccinated. I’m retired so not mixing with people in that way.

I still have reservations about the accuracy of these tests, although the figures Alegrias has posted are reassuring. The problem for me is that my son in law who was working in the Covid Hub became infected with Covid and had clear symptoms. Obviously he stopped going to work and took one of these tests. The result was negative, and so he took another the following day and the result was negative. Only on the third day did the test say positive. He passed the infection to his wife and child. This destroyed my belief in theses tests which is why I don’t use them. I’ve had Covid (nothing to do with son in law) and have had the two vaccinations. I wear masks, socially distance, and use sanitiser. I’ve seen people in shops who walk past the sanitiser without a mask on. They annoy me. I’m not going to use these tests unless requested to by a dentist, doctor etc simply because I have little faith in them and because I’m vaccinated and have had the virus.

I’m confused, does everyone need to do this? If so, where do you get them from?

We have not done them. To be honest, I have not seen anything that suggests everyone ought to be doing them.
We have had both vaccinations, and don’t go out much, especially not to crowded places or into anyone’s house yet. We live in an area with a very low number of cases.
I haven’t yet tried or wanted to try to visit my sister in a care home, but if I did, I guess I might have to do one.
I didnt realise they were meant for everyone. Are they?

I've posted this before so apologies for doing it again.

Regarding the accuracy of the LF tests.

Chance of a false positive : 1 in 1,000
Chance of a false negative: 1 in 4

So if it says you have COVID, you almost certainly have COVID. If is says you don't have COVID, you probably don't have COVID.

The point of doing them all the time is that they will catch a high proportion of positives who may be a- or pre-symptomatic.

That's why you should bother with them even if you're not showing symptoms.

Have one 'cooking' at the mo as i had a gardener here yesterday afternoon to quote for some work.
Even though we both wore masks who knows where else he had been.

Yes, we are doing these twice a week before seeing family or friends, I think it gives an extra feeling of security although we still don't go far and continue to do online shopping.

The lateral flow tests are not very accurate so I see no reason to bother with them unless one of us is showing symptoms - and to be honest we'd likely book a PCR test in that case. We are both double vaccinated and on rare trips out are fully complying with mask wearing and social distancing. We are not going anywhere that is busy for the time being in any event and have no visitors to our home except our single bubble friend (who is even more careful than we are). As I understand it, they are particularly poor at detecting asymptomatic cases so I can't see why this would be the reason for using them.

We do a test every Friday, we live one mile away from Bolton so we're still being extra careful. Only meeting up with '2 jabbed relatives' , no pubs etc, early food shop in quiet shops. Only trouble is the reporting website wouldn't work (prob my fault) but will try again!

Yes, we have them at home and also have a test every week before visiting relative in a care home.

The virus will continue spread until everyone takes responsibility for helping to stop the spread

I agree Marydoll. Sadly there are too many fully signed up members of the “I’m Alright Jack” club circulating in our communities.

No.

Grannynannywanny, I too feel despair at the selfishness of some people on here.
However, I suspect that nothing can be done to persuade them to think of others, rather than themselves.
If they don't test, how will they ever know that they may be asymptomatic and unknowingly infect and perhaps consequently cause loss of life, as well as putting those who treat them also at risk ?
The virus will continue spread until everyone takes responsibility for helping to stop the spread.

Twice a week since we are asked to do so. Thanks for the tip about both nostrils rather than back of throat

Olive53
If you do catch anything your immune system will no longer be able to fight it.

Like Naughtynanny you are missing the point. Have you no consideration at all for the vulnerable in your community whose immune systems are compromised due to illness, drug treatments etc? They are in a very vulnerable position and have barely been beyond their own doorstep since last March.

Is it really too much to ask for everyone to think beyond themselves and all do our bit to try to protect others. Those of us who could be circulating symptom free with the covid virus could infect a very vulnerable person who may not survive.

I really do feel despair at the attitude of some folk on this thread.

Naughtynanny, at last, someone with common sense
Some people really don’t get it do they. The Government says have the vaccine, get back to normal. Then they say we may have to postpone June 21st lifting of restrictions
They give you freedom then move the goalpost
Stop listening to the media and get back to living
Life is too short to hide behind a mask and constantly gelling hands
If you do catch anything your immune system will no longer be able to fight it.

I do them if I am meeting others indoors or meeting and staying with family or if I am travelling any distance. I really don't want to put others at risk. I am so pleased with the number of people who are also doing very similar.

Teacheranne

Admum3

I was told by my pharmacist when I went to get some tests that I didn't need them if I'd had 2 jabs. I did get some though.

It’s so hard to know what to believe, my pharmacist told me I should continue using the tests even after my two jabs as I could still be a symptomatic and transmit Covid to others. I would have thought that pharmacists would be giving out the same, correct information!

I have been advised that as someone who is immunisuppressed, despite having had two vaccinations, I may still be very vulnerable.
Research has shown that my medication may prevent me from getting the full effect of the vaccine. Therefore, I will continue to test myself and be extremely careful.
I would have thought a pharmacist would have been well aware some medication can affect the efficacy of the vaccine.

I did one yesterday which was negative.
A friend suggested doing the nose swabs (each nostril) as the throat swab would be difficult for me, I thought we had to do both.
I feel a responsibility towards others and it felt good to know I was negative.
I'll make a point of doing the test every Saturday now, I'm double jabbed and not mixing a lot, although that will change.
Reporting the result isn't straightforward, I have the app but had to go online, which was duly acknowledged.

Both my husband and I do lateral flow tests twice a week. I’ve been doing them since they first became available to care home workers last year and all results have been negative - no false positives.