Did anyone receive an e- mail from Blue Horizons offering testing kits for Covid 19. Is it a scam ?
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I did .Probably profiteering rather than a scam.
AliF
I received this last week. My jaw dropped when I saw the price. They have a reputation to uphold and do an awful lot of business to risk a scam, but I'm inclined to agree with Treepie that it's likely to be profiteering, a very expensive test aimed at those who already are inclined to self test.
Hi AliF,
Thanks. Not a scam. Neither is it profiteering. At £299 it is much more expensive than we would like but our ability to buy combined swab kits is hampered by a worldwide shortage of kit components as priority in the UK is quite rightly given to the NHS. This means in order for us to stock any type of test kit at all we are unable to buy direct from the manufacturing laboratory and have to buy through an intermediary laboratory that has not only the financial means to buy thousands of kits up front and also be in possession of components to enable testing. They must be viral swabs, but a certain type of viral swab. We are not able to do this as we do not have the funds to buy kits up front and cannot get hold of any suitable viral swabs ourselves. We are charging what we are charged from those that are able to supply, plus administrative expenses such as staff costs.
I’m hoping to learn more today about alternative tests from other suppliers with a view to offering a cheaper test that is also suitable for home use. It really is buyer beware at the moment, consumers need to make sure that test kits they see online are both legitimate and suitable for home use – We have been offered antibody tests for £5-10 but these are blood tests requiring vacutainers and for laboratory use only so are useless for home testing.
We expect to ship kits on Thursday as they are expected to be received then. If we can get a discount on supplies, or a cheaper SUITABLE test, then this discount WILL be passed on. There is so much change every hour at the moment and Thursday is a long way away. Those that have bought tests already will be contacted individually.
All Blue Horizon staff are working from home currently and are self isolating in order to keep the service viable for those with non COVID-19 testing needs such as thyroid or general health. We're packing and posting kits, and also providing results as per usual. Please everybody stay safe and reach out to us if you have any questions.
Stay as safe as possible - it will be best if you don't have to test at all.
Paul Harris
Founder - Blue Horizon.
I think the NHS should be offering this for free for people who have symptoms especially people who work for the NHS. I do realise you need to make a living but everyone is struggling at the moment. I intend to take the 3 months holiday payment holiday offered by my bank for my mortgage and I am grateful that VAT is being deferred until June which I assume your business will be having as well.
Hi Lora,
I agree with you - and I hope that there will be further announcements from the government this week to this effect - one thing is for sure, the kits are available when they want them. In terms of financial assistance from the government we are still waiting for details..
Good to know. Thanks for replying. Hope the NHS can also access lots more kits. We also really need the antibody test which would be a game changer
Hi Alif,
The tests you refer to above may be the IgG/IgM tests which are everywhere for about £5 -£10 but currently useless as no one really knows what to do with results. They are finger prick tests but can’t diagnose acute infection and at best are only about 87% accurate for past infection. Expect it to be available at some point, but nobody knows if having the IgG antibodies post infection will give immunity or not.
This is information i received on Thursday, the situation/tests/accuracy may be different - if I have any further information on this I'll update on this thread. You won't be seeing it on the Blue Horizon websites unless we are happy to offer it as a legitimate test.
Hi blue horizon. I had a thought that you might do a family deal where you combine samples (eg my family of 5) and then antibody test the combined blood. I thought I might have had a unique idea but Google shows not only has this been thought of it actually works science.thewire.in/the-scie...
You could do your own testing by combining known positive blood from samples sent in with known negative. Over a few thousand non charged combined tests you should get some confidence.
As per the research when you get a positive you split out the sample and retest individual family members.
I might pay 150 to test my whole family maybe even 200 but wouldn't pay 500.
Yes - no point testing if the results aren’t accurate. I appreciate we don’t know if having had Covid 19 will provide immunity but there is hope that it might provide some resistance to further infections. It is important people realise this. What we don’t want is for people who think they have had it, to think they are completely safe and stop socially distancing or isolating.
An update to those that are following this thread...
Firstly I hope that you are all well and locking down as much as able given individual circumstances.
We are really happy to have found an alternative supplier which will enable us to offer a COVID-19 swab kit for £149, instead of £299. We hope that this will make it more accessible. As kits have not yet been posted, all those that have pre-ordered will be sent the new kit, and receive a £150 refund on their order.
The new kit will be available on our website, but not until Thursday 26th March.
Next week, we also hope to be able to offer testing for COVID-19 IgG and IgM antibodies by finger-prick blood test kit - this is not a home test - rather a "collect sample at home" and send to the laboratory. We're not sure of the pricing on this one yet but will keep this thread up to date.
Stay safe all,
Paul Harris
Founder
Blue Horizon.
Blue Horizon Testing Offer
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