Lateral Flow Covid Home Tests

[Vindicatrix]

Hi all, does anyone know the current thinking on these tests with regard to CLL. Is there any value, or downsides to us taking them.? Regards Ron

[annmcgowan]

Hi I can’t see any down side to using these tests, other than a negative result may make us overconfident about being covid 19 free. I believe they have only 70% or there about accuracy so we have to remain vigilant and mindful when we are out and about. On the up side there is nothing lost, they are a small element of security and provided you feed back your results they help in government data collection.My husband and I are using them. They are not the most pleasant of tests, they make me sneeze, but not so bad that I would cease using them.

Ann

[Jacksc06 in reply to annmcgowan]

Hi Ann. They make me sneeze too!. I am testing twice a week at present and will continue to as i am about to return to work. I too can't see any downside to using them.

[terryI_uk in reply to Jacksc06]

I'm back to work tomorrow jacks, I have some tests at home and will start using them today. Hope your return to work on Monday goes well, God bless, Terry

[Jacksc06 in reply to terryI_uk]

Hi Terry. Good luck for tomorrow, Stay safe.

[Vindicatrix in reply to annmcgowan]

Thank you Ann, your post on this matter helps a lot. I have now read the fors and againsts, and at the end of the day, it seems that when the experts are asked 'Is it worth taking,' the answer is' Yes, it's useful'.

On the other hand as a result of the sizeble percentage of false negatives, there is the argument that mass home testing will make people drop their guard, therefore infecting more people. So I am going with the Government, NHS, Public Health Englands advice, and taking it.

The problem now is that my wife who lives with me, is not convinced, and has decided not to take it, a decision I absolutely respect. I am seeing my GP next week and will act on his advice, as it is all too much for my 'Baby Bear Brain'.

If it means my wife and I both isolating within the home, then unfortunately so be it. I expect there will be many others in a similar predicament. 'What to do for the best? We are in the lap of the 'God's. Regards Ron

[annmcgowan in reply to Vindicatrix]

Hi Ron sorry to hear of your dilemma. Arguments on either side taking the tests and not taking them have some validity. For me my husband a d myself are taking the tests and still following all the rules outdoors. I treat everyone as if they could potentially have covid and keep my distance. Better to be safe than sorry.Hope your GP can help.

Ann

[Vindicatrix in reply to annmcgowan]

Good advice Ann, and we have decided to do the same, whilst still being very cautious. Treating everyone as a carrier of Covid is a good way to go. Thanks again. Ron

[annmcgowan]

Hi Ron well I guess it’s a sneezing session twice a week for us both for now.😂Ann

[Titian72]

I am a teacher and so I have to use them twice per week but recently a friend sent me a link to a chemical that is used to sterilise these tests (ethylene oxide) and this chemical is marked as cancer causing, particularly leukaemia! I have checked and found this: fullfact.org/online/lateral...

[ChristyAnne_UK in reply to Titian72]

I hope people read the info on that link. It would be helpful if you included in the body of your comment that ethylene oxide used to sterilise medical equipment is NOT harmful.

[Titian72 in reply to Titian72]

Following Christy Anne's point, for those of you who have not clicked on the link, just to add that the article confirms that ethylene oxide used to sterilise medical equipment and is on the test kits is NOT harmful.

[devonrr]

When I go for an appointment and we have the questionnaire about health, I immediately say that I did a home lateral flow test the day before and it was negative.

The enquirers seem pleased.

Said this at my 2nd jab appointment and the hairdresser this week.

At a picnic with friends max 6 on Sunday afternoon and will do a test in the morning.

They say twice a week but for me it’s working out about once a week.

It’s about protecting others really.

[bennevisplace]

The free NHS tests have a sensitivity of 82 % based on a big study done by Public Health England bbc.co.uk/news/health-56750460

82 % represents the rate of true positives, the remaining 18 % being "true" (on PCR test) negatives that tested positive on lateral flow. The report doesn't state the rate of "false" negatives (positive on PCR, negative on lateral flow), though to me that is the more important, potentially life-and-death, statistic.

If you read down to the bottom of this article you will see that even a big study such as this is prone to error and bias.

Other tests may perform better or worse, and all come with issues cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/do...

And if you dig deeper the waters get really murky theguardian.com/world/2021/...

I have a keen interest in this, as my son and his fiancee will be visiting us next Sunday and the weather forecast indicates we will have the choice of dining indoors with windows wide open or outdoors in the cold and rain. Nothing doing before the two of them have tested negative on the lateral flow, but still.... a mite apprehensive.

Final edit - Sorry I have spent a few minutes tinkering with the wording of this to try to make it clearer. I hope it is.