Testing Megathread Part 4 - See OP for threadbans

Mimikyu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118240688#Comment_118240688

Next day for me last week. Test on Monday morning, result text came through on Tuesday evening.

bettyoleary

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118232562#Comment_118232562

ignore him. As always ther are so many people who will use the situation to their advantage despite the pressure they are putting on the health care workers. They will get a bit brave for the nose swab so they can have the normal life and a few days off paid. You see them coming.😍

bettyoleary

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118240771#Comment_118240771

they are usually the big ugly heads that ...t themselves during the test.

Martina1991

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118240688#Comment_118240688

I don't think turnaround from swab to result is causing backlogs. It's the more or less the same as before despite increasing numbers.

The problem is the availability of swab appointments. But there are a certain number available for GP referrals on top of self referrals.

josip

Speaking of swab component shortages, but not directly related. In the RDS and Ballally, they gave us a 2 pack of masks in a plastic bag when we entered the buildings.

But in Wicklow the last time at the drive through, they handed me a box of 60 😐️ The 2 cars in front of me got boxes also.

fits

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118240965#Comment_118240965

We’ve stopped accepting the boxes as have more than we need now.

fritzelly

Bought an antigen test last Friday after 9 days of a cold - was positive

Bought more today and the other half's was positive as well - impossible to get a PCR test and the nearest one is a long way for someone who doesn't drive, of course I could get on a bus and maybe infect everyone else...

How many more thousands of cases is there every day that just give up trying to get a PCR test

Is there any point even going for a PCR test bar you become part of the statistics

Mimikyu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118242556#Comment_118242556

Try at midnight or else give your GP a call (AFAIK any GP, including out of hours, can refer you if you can’t get in touch with your own GP).

If you get a PCR test done you can know for definite if you have it or not and save you self isolating if you don’t. You can also apply for a certificate of recovery if you are positive.

fritzelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118242695#Comment_118242695

But none near me unless I walk an hour to the nearest one in D3 - really don't understand why there is none south city for people to go to

Anyway I thought a positive antigen test is pretty much 100% accurate

Hippodrome Song Owl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118242724#Comment_118242724

I had to walk 20km round trip to get PCR a few weeks ago. No choice, required for work. And I was quite sick (but negative)! It's ridiculous. Hope you're all feeling better soon.

DvB

Trying to book an appointment for my wife & daughter this morning but not receiving the 6 digit code to enter & confirm the booking, tried resend and it told me I had maxed this out, try starting the process again and it tells me that number is awaiting verification... so cant restart & try again... have full mobile signal & tried the email option on the first resend but still received nothing... anyone else encounter a problem like this?

jArgHA

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118249408#Comment_118249408

Yes I also booked an appointment this morning (Cork area) about an hour ago at this stage, and have still not received the 6 digit code by SMS. I'm keeping the web page open in case it comes through.. but not holding out much hope now that an hour has passed :(

passremarkable

Same here

SourSessions

There's been an issue all night. Codes are being sent now but getting 'maximum verification request' messages on the two numbers I tried last night. Got one eventually with an alternate unused number.

DvB

All our verification codes cam through there now, so they seem to be waiitng & batch issuing them. Got three appointments booked there in the space of about 5 minutes. So check again now.

Slipshaney

For the required Antigen test, 48 hours before leaving/returning to the country, can this just be done in a pharmacy, or do you need to go to a "specialist" clinic?

passremarkable

Working there now

Wibbs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118242776#Comment_118242776

There's a non covid headcold doing the rounds. Have it myself and tested neg on pcr and antigen, ditto for two mate's kids with the same pox, though they've been told to stay at home and isolate. Rotten oul dose with a runny nose that has me going through more tissues than a 14 year old lad whose just discovered pornhub. If I'd had to walk 20k's to get tested I'd have thought my arse to that, but if you needed it for work. Fair play.

ray7777

Is anyone having difficulty booking for Citywest this week for PCR tests? I know the system only allows you to book an appointment one day in advance. But very early Weds morning it showed 0 slots available (presuming thurs also 0 slots). Today Thurs morning I checked just after midnight, the same. 0 slots for Citywest. This would mean Fri also booked out, which is not possible. Every other test center in Dublin was fully available for Friday. I'm trying to reach the HSE to clarify but it really appears to me they are not allowing currently Citywest bookings.

josip

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118254991#Comment_118254991

There was a bug a few weeks ago that had this behaviour, not sure if it's been fixed.

You need to clear your cookies or use a different browser.

ray7777

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118255397#Comment_118255397

Yes tried via mobile and different browsers. Same result. HSE just gave a default answer stating appointments getting filled due to high cases, which we all know. Seems like GPs & other referrals are also booking to the testing centres so it gets filled up days in advance.

Ferris_Bueller

Minier81

Test yesterday at 10.20 in Dublin 18

Result today 13.00

Pretty good turnaround given the pressure on the system at the moment.

Random sample

Has anyone had results since the 7 December shutdown? Is there a backlog?

Tested yesterday morning, no result yet.

Whiplashy

Wondering about any possible backlog too. Tested yesterday morning. Person in my household has an appointment in the morning and not sure if to go ahead or cancel while waiting for my result. I'm expecting a negative result but obviously can't be sure

Random sample

I’ve had one of two results. It’s a negative… I expect the other will be too. Anecdotally positives seem to come quicker negatives.

Hippodrome Song Owl

Took 48h for a result for a test done last Sun afternoon.

alroley

Had a test at 4.15pm yesterday and still waiting for the result. Really hoping I get it tonight, but I know it could be tomorrow evening.

Lumen

Is there a better thread for discussion of test efficacy?

This might be useful.

https://twitter.com/MattGarrahan/status/1473246333012226052?t=qjj3E8ZkQm403HLpbC_MEg&s=19

odyssey06

Half of reported positive antigen tests from close contacts had negtive pcrs according to irish times. Mystifying.

Wolf359f

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118359760#Comment_118359760

I was wondering if/when we would hear about the results from fully vaccinated (2 jab) close contacts being given antigen tests who are close contacts of a confirmed case.

crisco10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118359760#Comment_118359760

I thought it was a bit unclear whether PCR tests came back negative or whether a significant portion of the positives failed to present for a PCR at all. The article just says something like "failed to confirm a positive PCR" which doesn't necessarily mean a negative result.

Inquitus

Impossible to book one last few days, 0 Appointment at all Dublin sites, and if a cancellation pops up its gone before you can nab it, it doesnt confirm until you complete the process instead of blocking it for 5 mins when you click it initially a la ticketmaster.

marieholmfan

Hi there does anyone know of any shops/ supermarkets selling 'lollipop' style antigen tests.

marieholmfan

Hi There ,

Does anyone know where to get lollipop style tests near Kilcock?

frash

Hi there

Sorry if this has been asked before but is there a specific time of the day when they put up new slots to book for the covid test?

Thanks

Frank Bullitt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118362701#Comment_118362701

Midnight I believe.

Went and got tested today, hopefully I get a result soon.

cosanostra

What's the general waiting time for results now i know it can be 48hrs but got tested this evening just hoping we'll have results before they close on christmas eve

Cash_Q

Anyone tested this week/very recently have an idea on timeframe for results? My son was tested yesterday around 1pm in Ballycoolin, Blanchardstown. Almost 8.30p.m. now and no result. At this point I suppose we are unlikely to get it until tomorrow. Nervewracking at any time of year, but potentially isolating throughout Christmas has us stressed out of our minds.

Murt_

My son was tested at 12:30 yesterday at the same Ballycoolin. Still no results after 32 hours. I had to be tested at the same site two weeks ago at 8:35 and got the results the same day at 21:35. I was a little concerned they had moved to paper registrations due to a systems issue, but was assured by the tester it would make no difference and results would be 24 to 48 hours. Hopefully a negative tomorrow morning.

Once again all the staff and volunteers were brilliant.

Frank Bullitt

Will also say the staff were super at the centre I went to.

chooey

My little girl had to get tested at Ballycoolin this morning. Staff were all brilliant.

For anyone trying to get a Dublin test, keep refreshing and they are coming up. I only managed to get her booked in this morning and there was nothing available but they did keep coming up every couple of clicks and I managed to get her into first thing this morning after firstly booking in one for later this evening. They go so quick though it's frustrating

bitofabind

Does a positive antigen test invariably mean a positive PCR? Looks like there's a fairly low chance of false positive antigen from what I've read online. My partner is showing symptoms and got positive antigen yesterday, assuming that means Christmas is cancelled 😥

Patsy167

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118365146#Comment_118365146

Not always the case that a positive antigen test invariably mean a positive PCR. A PCR test would be the next step to confirm

- "Barely half of positive antigen test results confirmed by PCR testing

Average of almost 4,000 antigen tests carried out on close contacts since end of October"

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/barely-half-of-positive-antigen-test-results-confirmed-by-pcr-testing-1.4761184

stainluss

if I get a covid PCR from a private provider (like Randox, Vida) and it turns out to be positive, do I still get a certificate of recovery even though it wasn't the HSE that did it?

Thanks

cosanostra

I had a very faint line positive antigen test you could barely see the line but done pcr anyway to be on the safe side, subsequently done several other antigens while I impatiently wait my pcr results all have returned negative results. Of course I could have been at the end of infection when I got the pos test but pcr should show positive in that case but I have heard of quite a few false positive antigens. When these testing kits go through their certification process the aim is to find positive cases it probably doesn't really bother the certifiers much if the kits return false positives however false negatives would

josip

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118365924#Comment_118365924

It's also possible that they were false negative (too late) PCR tests. Even if the antigen tests are very sensitive, they cannot detect what isn't there.

kravmaga

Okay Im in a similar situation, I had my PCR test with Vida Care and they advised me to contact my GP with result.

Plus you can inform the HSE yourself, via email or through the HSE call centre.

I was told by Vilda Care this am when I had the PCR test that I will get my result back in 24hrs as they are using a different laboratory to the HSE.

glut22

I had a negative antigen this evening. I feel like **** though getting worse since this morning, aches and fever. Prob not covid due to antigen?

cosanostra

what's the cut off time for them sending test result texts would they still send them this late