Government is lying about lack of availability of CV testing chemicals

Well that might be true growstuff reporting what he had been told wouldn’t have been scaremongering except he was a bit, mm journalistic?, about what he says he was told.

He was actually told that there was no shortage of the basic materials needed to make the reactants. The CIA went on (reportedly) to say that as the Government hadn’t requested them to step up production, they hadn’t, and so the reactants themselves were in short supply.

That didn’t make quite such a snappy headline though.

Yes the Government should have requested them to step up production. But surely the CIA could have seen that coming and bear some responsibility. But they are not Preston’s target.

Does it all have to come from the Government, who ever they are? Can nobody think for themselves any more?

Interesting article on TV about a new piece of testing that’s currently being used in Addenbrookes - they’ve got 200 machines on the go that take minutes to confirm the presence of the virus with plans to produce thousands more.

Am I right in thinking that most tests only test for presence of the virus and not antibodies? So no way of knowing if/when we’ve reached full herd immunity?

Chemical companies couldn't have started production without clear instructions and a contract. It would have been very foolish to start stockpiling something the government might have sourced elsewhere.

I think that we can all agree with what you have said a few times now. notanan

That isn’t the issue though is it?

SK and Germany to name just two countries have consistently tested and it would certainly appear to be beneficial particularly with clinical staff

The issue is the government failing to take action in a timely manner. It did nothing for 2 months, then made the decision to follow the herd immunity theory until it was challenged and consequently changed its mind. Meanwhile no thought was apparently given to the WHO advise to test test test. Or if it was it was clearly shelved. Now when the consequence of this almost complete lack of testing of NHS staff is becoming clear the government seems completely on the back foot.

But still, he didn’t actually report what he’d been told did he? He doctored it a bit to make a better soundbite.

So I don’t think he can be considered a totally reliable source for any future information, do you?

The important test is the one to check for "antibodies" which is apparently close to being rolled out.

You could check a frontline worker for the virus, they show a negative result. On their way home they go to the supermarket pick up the infection which is possible. They think they are negative.......you cannot check everyone everyday.

Both types of testing is vitally important. Clinical staff are self isolating when they show symptoms, and continue to self isolate for a period of time after feeling better. If it was proven that they didn’t have it they would be free to return to work ASAP. None of it has been happening though until this week.

The antibody test is important, but really a tool more to be used at a later stage once the peak is past and decisions are being made about releasing the restrictions

Eglantine I didn't see anything on TV, but I read about it on the ITV website. As far as I can see, he reported exactly what he'd been told at the time.

We seem to have some muddled thinking on here with people claiming that testing is a waste of time, which is a different issue from whether there are enough chemical reagents for the kits.

I honestly don't know how useful testing is in the current situation, but the fact is that the WHO, Public Health England and the Francis Crick Institute seem to think it's important. Johnson, himself, has said that it's crucial and has promised more tests. The government has changed tack on this, which is presumably why it didn't order chemicals and kits in time. It's trying to cover up and only the dim, blinkered and extremely forgetful can't see that.

I agree. They made a big mistake over testing.

I wish they’d be honest about it.

But I wish that journalists would be honest too. By all means call out the mistakes in the hope they will be recognised and rectified. Don’t twist a fact to get yourself and your newspaper the “headline”.

If I am to be honest, I thoroughly despise anybody that is using this pandemic as a political football.

Like I said he didn’t report what he’d been told. He just omitted a little bit that actually changed the meaning quite a lot.

I think that’s why we swear the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth......

Whitewavemark2 Do you know if the current test indicates whether you have Covid-19 and/or are a carrier?

I have been unable to find out online (trying to concentrate whilst binge watching all Pirates of the Caribbean films with 5 yr old GC and fast forwarding through the inappropriate parts) but have not been successful.

I absolute agree that in the case of the four paramedics who house-share and are now all self-isolating due to one showing symptoms it would be sensible for them to be tested. No doubt there are many more similar scenarios.

gg13 I’m not up with the science, although my daughter is. I could ask her after she’s finished work for the day.

I do know that because it is such a new virus, there are a number of unknowables, like how long does immunity last.

There are now two mutations and this is going to make the science more difficult especially in producing a vaccine.

It does seem very much more infectious than say SARS or MERS.

The government also lied about the EU and supplying equipment. First they claimed they weren't asked, then they said they were too late. Now it seems they actually attended meetings and just didn't take part. Talk about Lying!!! www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/30/uk-discussed-joint-eu-plan-to-buy-covid-19-medical-supplies-say-officials?fbclid=IwAR1bfLTTg0LRIG8jKrBAI93dUzfXCzDXrGv-zfqLosApleAXca-S44q858E

My understanding is that the current test only checks for presence of the virus, not antibodies - that requires a blood test - but it’s the one that would show when herd immunity is achieved. I could be wrong though.

I mean the blood test one shows antibodies and therefore when herd immunity is achieved

There is a big batch of antibody tests being shipped at great expense from China, but Public Health England say it will take time to see if they are effective because ‘a bad test is no worse than no test at all’.

This ‘time’ is a lot of BS, take it from one who knows about lab tests. This particular test gives a result in seconds (like a pregnancy test) and can be self administered from a droplet of blood.

Tests like this can be ‘tested’ in the laboratory very quickly. If it was a culture which had to be grown that is a different matter but these are chemical reactions. Therefore with the right will, a few thousand blood samples from those who they know have had the virus and recovered and a ditto from a control group who think they haven’t then the results could be cleared within 48 hours to a probability factor of +/- %.

It makes me so cross that certain people are dragging their heels on this.

~How I wish the Government would acknowledge their mistakes and at the same time their lack of expertise. I would welcome their adopting former statesmen on their committees. This should be cross party, surely. Then I might feel confident in them . At the moment I have no confidence whatsoever in their handling of this pandemic .

I wondered about that - I don’t know nearly enough about it but I wondered if all tests are calibrated to an acceptable tolerance level?

Pikachu is it known if these Chinese Tests are from the same batch that the Spanish and Dutch Governments have just returned as they were found to be faulty?

That's how I feel westendgirl. I feel that the current "bread and circuses", "tell them what they want to hear today" doesn't inspire any confidence at all. It doesn't help that we know that so many of them have lied in the past. Why should they change now?

As for not speaking up, I wonder whether some people really want the UK to be like China, Russia or any other country with a totalitarian regime.

Well GG13 if they are it could be proved within a couple of hours.

Chemical reaction tests are need to be accurate to within a certain min/max. Like the pregnancy tests are accurate ti within +/- 1%.

Growstuff. why not address that question to the families of the 20,000 people who will die needlessly in this country from C19?

I can only find reference to the Slovak government and faulty tests so far, but they were purchased through an ‘intermediary’ and there are hints of double dealing.

However my point is still valid. Whatever arrives can be very quickly assessed for their efficacy and therefore rejected or used.

Thank you Pikachu

notanan It isn't just "bloody Labour" who is critical of the government's performance so far. Some of its own supporters aren't very impressed and, certainly, largea numbers of medical professionals are furious - and have expressed their fury on several occasions.

If it were Labour ....................

1. who in 2017 had voted down the purchase of more protective, and other necessary, equipment for our hospitals, in preparation for what the medical profession warned was likely to be a serious flu epidemic in the coming years;

2. who, being aware in December 2019 of an almost inevitable pandemic and also being aware that we had insufficient protective and other vital equipment, did not appear to spring into action until several weeks later;

2. who, when it became apparent there was going to be a significant shortage in vital equipment, made conflicting statements as to the number of ventilators available;
and who only recently liaised with engineers and manufacturers to seek their advice and co-operation in manufacturing as many ventilators as possible in the shortest possible time,

etc, etc, etc ........

I'm sure the Conservative Party and its supporters would have plenty to say about it.

This government is not only evasive in answering questions re availability of equipment and actions being taken. As trisher pointed out, it was initially implied that the UK had not been included in the EU collective purchase plan for medical equipment. Further investigation led to the admission that the UK had missed the opportunity to be included in this purchase plan due to lateness of application because of an"administrative oversight".

Englantine What I "thoroughly despise" is the hypocritical behaviour of those politicians and members of the public who go out on a Thursday evening to clap and cheer health workers but who were fully supportive of this government's policies and its refusal to properly fund the NHS, even when the medical profession was urging the stocking up of vital equipment to respond to this sort of crisis.