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Testing Megathread Part 4 - See OP for threadbans

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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,136 ✭✭✭✭is_that_so


    odyssey06 wrote: »
    New walk in test centres announced:

    * Whitemills Industrial Estate, Wexford, Y35 VK59
    * Cavan Swimming Poll and Leisure Complex, Drumalee, Cavan, H12 Y9W4
    * Donegal GAA Centre of Excellence, Milltown, Convoy, Donegal, F93 DK4C
    * Ardee walk-in test centre, St Bridget’s Campus, Kells Road, Ardee, Louth, A92 DRN0
    * Tallaght Stadium, Whitestown Way, Dublin 24, D24 FNK6
    * St Fintan’s Hospital, Dublin Road, Portlaoise, Laois, R32 YFW6
    * Unit 10A Mastertech Business Park, Longford, N39 K535
    * GAA Club, Carndonagh, Donegal F93 EF65

    https://www.thejournal.ie/walk-in-test-centres-eight-locations-donegal-5431285-May2021/

    Longford one is interesting in light of recent events!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,106 ✭✭✭Technocentral


    frankled wrote: »
    Out of curiosity where in the shop where they positioned?

    Cash register


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 52,184 Mod ✭✭✭✭Necro


    drunkmonkey's threadban lifted after discussion with poster


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,545 ✭✭✭Martina1991



    No you linked a saliva test. That is not the one for sale.

    The one that is for sale I believe is from Boson Biotech.
    The instructions for use that come with the kit include the following:

    Intended use
    Rapid SARS-COV-2 antigen test card is an immunochromatography based one step in vitro test. It is designed for the rapid qualitative determination of sars-CoV-2 antigen in nasopharyngeal swabs from individuals suspected of covid19 by their healthcare provider within the first seven days of symptom onset. Rapid SARS-COV-2 antigen test card can not be used as the basis to diagnose or exclude SARS-COV-2 infection.

    Precautions
    1. For professional in vitro diagnostic use only
    2. The product is strictly for medical professional use only and not intended for personal use.


    The CMO is right to not authorise the use of these tests when
    A) they miss cases and
    B) they're not even being used as they are intended to be


  • Posts: 2,827 [Deleted User]


    https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/lidlireland-covid-antigentest-lockdownshopping-portmarnock-20543968
    This is what it looks like.
    That test is a Health Ministry approved antigen test in Germany which would have been tested by Paul-Ehrlich-Instituts but if not approved for personal use then LIDL shouldn't be selling it over the counter but the German users guide says it is approved for personal use:
    https://cdn.dein-corona-selbsttest.de/media/pdf/89/de/cb/20210304-IFU-BfArM_DE_final.pdf
    "Für den privaten Gebrauch / Selbsttest"


    Tests are being used to keep Germany open. Here is an educational video with puppets for young children explaining how antigen tests work:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0EqaSBurX0

    The CMO in Ireland has other opinion on Antigen tests than the Health Ministry in Germany so he isn't going to bend to help get the test approved for private self-test.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,545 ✭✭✭Martina1991


    There are tonnes of private companies selling antigen tests. They are just companies selling products.

    They are intended for use by professionals on symptomatic people, but if the public choose to ignore that and spend their own money on them, the onus is on the public for buying them.

    The kits meet safety standards for their intended purpose so its not their problem if people use them incorrectly or misinterpret them.

    Countries went from the manufactures sales pitch to buying them in bulk for use before trialing them to see if they were worth buying. (The UK spending 1.7 billion on them)

    Ireland had a scientific committee that assessed all these rapid tests, and none were good enough for mass use on asymptomatic people so they're not recommended because it would be a waste of resources.


  • Posts: 2,827 [Deleted User]


    The CMO is right to not authorise the use of these tests

    That is your opinion. The Germans Health Ministry has taken a more pragmatic approach which has not injured the personal freedoms of their Citizens to anywhere near the same extent.


  • Posts: 2,827 [Deleted User]


    Ireland had a scientific committee that assessed all these rapid tests, and none were good enough for mass use on asymptomatic people so they're not recommended because it would be a waste of resources.
    ...and yet the Germans went another way.
    The German Health Ministry appointed an Institute to test the products against the claims. Listed on the Ministry website the products which fulfilled their claims , struck off the ones which didn't and gives those antigen tests FOR FREE to residents of Germany in Doctors Surgeries across the Land.
    In the schools the self-tests are used to keep the kids in School so that their educational development is not undermined. They compel employers to provide antigen tests for their employees.
    They are using Antigen tests exactly the way they are intended to used to minimise spread while NPHET say "over my your dead body".


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,545 ✭✭✭Martina1991


    Hospitalised cases are falling, 10s of thousands of vaccines are being administered daily, restrictions are easing.

    Our personal freedoms are looking better by the day.

    This is Germany.
    https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnbc.com/amp/2021/04/26/german-coronavirus-new-lockdown-rules-could-last-until-june.html


  • Posts: 2,827 [Deleted User]


    Hospitalised cases are falling, 10s of thousands of vaccines are being administered daily, restrictions are easing.

    Our personal freedoms are looking better by the day.

    This is Germany.
    https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnbc.com/amp/2021/04/26/german-coronavirus-new-lockdown-rules-could-last-until-june.html
    Sorry but I take my updates directly from the German press and Government websites, not from CNBC.
    Lockdowns in Germany are very pragmatic. My city was in lockdown for a few days as they monitored the infection rate within the boundaries of the city. It climbed above 100 per 100000 over 7 days(not 14) for 5 days in sequence so they locked down. It droped below 100 and lockdow i.e. curfew lifted. Very reasonable, very clear rules which only the Querdenkers and Rightwingers looking to make some political capital complain about.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,545 ✭✭✭Martina1991


    If you live in Germany why worry about personal freedoms that don't affect you personally


    :pac:


  • Posts: 2,827 [Deleted User]


    If you live in Germany why worry about personal freedoms that don't affect you personally
    :pac:
    I'm an Irish citizen and I'm horrified how the personal freedoms of Irish citizens have been trampled upon. I'm also very annoyed that the Antigen test which I can get for free in a Doctor's surgery is not accepted on entry to Ireland so a PCR test will be required.
    MOST IMPORTANTLY, I am disgusted that Friends and Family in Ireland who are in risk groups were needlessly exposed to additional risk of infection due to NPHETs arrogance refusing to follow international best practice and have still not embraced Antigen testing.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,139 ✭✭✭✭normanoffside


    Ireland had a scientific committee that assessed all these rapid tests, and none were good enough for mass use on asymptomatic people so they're not recommended because it would be a waste of resources.

    Perhaps asymptomatic people are not a big problem and only Ireland hasn't realised that.

    I see Dr Tony's objection to Antigen tests as akin to a Catholic Bishop advising against Condoms in the 1980's because they are not 100% effective in preventing pregnancy so it's better just not to have sex at all.

    Here Dr Ferguson explains the difference between Antigen tests and PCR tests in plain language.
    It's pointless to compare one against the other as they are different and should be used for different and appropriate purposes.

    https://twitter.com/Cwitter86/status/1390052664831004673


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,545 ✭✭✭Martina1991


    Antigen testing was/is used in settings where it is more suitable such as retirement homes and meat factories.

    It was used in these settings because
    A) the elderly are at the greatest risk and the factories were prominent sources of outbreaks.

    B) professionals can visit these sites on a regular basis and perform the tests properly and record the results

    C) repeated measurement can improve the accuracy of these tests if they are performed on a regular basis.

    This is an example of the proper use of antigen tests being used in Ireland.



    The product says it has to be used by professionals in symptomatic people.
    To use them on anyone, anywhere, uncontrolled and undocumented is daft.
    You can't expect a product to perform well when it is not even been used properly.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,545 ✭✭✭Martina1991


    Perhaps asymptomatic people are not a big problem and only Ireland hasn't realised that.

    I see Dr Tony's objection to Antigen tests as akin to a Catholic Bishop advising against Condoms in the 1980's because they are not 100% effective in preventing pregnancy so it's better just not to have sex at all.

    Asymptomatic people are still vectors for transmission.
    There was an increasing amount of asymptomatic close contacts testing positive when the Briisth variant became rampant.

    This isn't me saying, well antigen isn't as good as pcr so let's not use it.

    I'm saying, it shouldn't be used for mass testing because that isn't what it was made for or recommended for use by the manufacturers themselves.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,139 ✭✭✭✭normanoffside


    Antigen testing was/is used in settings where it is more suitable such as retirement homes and meat factories.

    It was used in these settings because
    A) the elderly are at the greatest risk and the factories were prominent sources of outbreaks.

    B) professionals can visit these sites on a regular basis and perform the tests properly and record the results

    C) repeated measurement can improve the accuracy of these tests if they are performed on a regular basis.

    This is an example of the proper use of antigen tests being used in Ireland.



    The product says it has to be used by professionals in symptomatic people.
    To use them on anyone, anywhere, uncontrolled and undocumented is daft.
    You can't expect a product to perform well when it is not even been used properly.


    Ok then, you and NPHET are right and every other country is wrong.

    Got it.


  • Posts: 2,827 [Deleted User]


    To use them on anyone, anywhere, uncontrolled and undocumented is daft.
    German Health Ministry have a different view.
    They are using it on anyone anywhere but they certainly aren't using it in an uncontrolled and undocumented manner.

    The German Health Ministry are not daft and they have performed much better than their counterparts in Ireland.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,545 ✭✭✭Martina1991


    Ok then, you and NPHET are right and every other country is wrong.

    Got it.

    :rolleyes:

    Yeah that's it.

    The people that MAKE the antigen tests that lidl are selling say these tests are not for personal use.

    But go ahead. Buy away if you want.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,545 ✭✭✭Martina1991


    German Health Ministry have a different view.
    They are using it on anyone anywhere but they certainly aren't using it in an uncontrolled and undocumented manner.

    The German Health Ministry are not daft and they have performed much better than their counterparts in Ireland.

    :confused:
    Well good for Germany then.
    I don't really care what other countries are doing.


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  • Posts: 2,827 [Deleted User]


    :confused:
    Well good for Germany then.
    I don't really care what other countries are doing.
    That's hardly an enlightened outlook, now is it?
    Do you just hope that your leaders in Ireland never look abroad to learn from the experience of others and instead have an epiphany whenever they are faced with a crisis.


  • Posts: 2,827 [Deleted User]


    :rolleyes:

    Yeah that's it.

    The people that MAKE the antigen tests that lidl are selling say these tests are not for personal use.

    But go ahead. Buy away if you want.
    I provided a link which you probably can't read because it is in German which shows it is in the short term approved for personal use in Germany.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,545 ✭✭✭Martina1991


    I expect our appointed medical and scientific leaders to make assessments and recommendations based on trial, fact, statistics and projections.

    I know people don't have time for NPHET but I find their briefings informative and well explained.

    I live in Ireland so don't tend to look outward to what other countries are doing.

    I take heart from seeing more people I know getting vaccinated and planning trips away to other parts of ireland to look forward to. That's my outlook at the moment.
    :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,139 ✭✭✭✭normanoffside




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,545 ✭✭✭Martina1991


    I provided a link which you probably can't read because it is in German which shows it is in the short term approved for personal use in Germany.

    Grand then! The lidl one for sale here isn't though, which is why I was on about that one.


  • Registered Users Posts: 990 ✭✭✭LostinKildare


    The one that is for sale I believe is from Boson Biotech.
    The instructions for use that come with the kit include the following:

    Intended use
    Rapid SARS-COV-2 antigen test card is an immunochromatography based one step in vitro test. It is designed for the rapid qualitative determination of sars-CoV-2 antigen in nasopharyngeal swabs from individuals suspected of covid19 by their healthcare provider within the first seven days of symptom onset. Rapid SARS-COV-2 antigen test card can not be used as the basis to diagnose or exclude SARS-COV-2 infection.

    Precautions
    1. For professional in vitro diagnostic use only
    2. The product is strictly for medical professional use only and not intended for personal use.
    They are intended for use by professionals on symptomatic people, but if the public choose to ignore that and spend their own money on them, the onus is on the public for buying them.
    The product says it has to be used by professionals in symptomatic people.
    To use them on anyone, anywhere, uncontrolled and undocumented is daft.
    You can't expect a product to perform well when it is not even been used properly.
    The people that MAKE the antigen tests that lidl are selling say these tests are not for personal use.

    But go ahead. Buy away if you want.

    Where are you getting this from? Have you bought one of these kits on sale from Lidl, because I have, and the instructions do not say what you say they do -- that the tests are for professional use. The text you "quote" is nowhere in the instructions, which are very clearly written to walk non-professionals through the steps to perform the test on themselves.

    The FAQs include "When should/can I test myself?" and "My result is positive/negative, what should I do?" They tell you that children under 14 will need the help of an adult. And it says,

    "A feasibility study demonstrated that
    -99,10% of non-professionals carried out the test without requiring assistance
    -97,87% of the different types of results were interpreted correctly"


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,545 ✭✭✭Martina1991


    Where are you getting this from? Have you bought one of these kits on sale from Lidl, because I have, and the instructions do not say what you say they do -- that the tests are for professional use. The text you "quote" is nowhere in the instructions, which are very clearly written to walk non-professionals through the steps to perform the test on themselves.

    The FAQs include "When should/can I test myself?" and "My result is positive/negative, what should I do?" They tell you that children under 14 will need the help of an adult. And it says,

    "A feasibility study demonstrated that
    -99,10% of non-professionals carried out the test without requiring assistance
    -97,87% of the different types of results were interpreted correctly"

    From the pictures in articles I've seen, the company is called Xiamen Boson Biotech. They are a chinese company.

    This is the product information :
    https://cdn02.plentymarkets.com/8ufygep7ztd4/propertyItems/99_86_Boson_Biotech_Schnelltest.pdf

    Page 6 has the IFU (instructions for use).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,336 ✭✭✭✭drunkmonkey


    Tony didn't say the Lidl ones are only 50% accurate, he said some antigen tests are. He should have named them as any of the ones i've purchased for work claim 98%+ accuracy on active Covid cases.
    Tony is taking about Covid cases, finding inactivate Covid cases is pointless, it leads me to believe the pcr test is reporting 50% of cases that aren't infectious by the same logic.
    I really think he's going to get pulled up on Monday for this deliberate attempt to mislead if Pat Kenny hasn't chocked eating his cornflakes after seeing the article.


  • Registered Users Posts: 990 ✭✭✭LostinKildare


    From the pictures in articles I've seen, the company is called Xiamen Boson Biotech. They are a chinese company.

    This is the product information :
    https://cdn02.plentymarkets.com/8ufygep7ztd4/propertyItems/99_86_Boson_Biotech_Schnelltest.pdf

    Page 6 has the IFU (instructions for use).

    The tests sold by Lidl are also from Xiamen Boson Biotech. The contents are similar but not exactly the same (somewhat simplified), and the directions for use are not the same -- in this kit the instructions are in English, German, French, Spanish, and Italian yet all on one large page, front in back, certainly written for self-use by non-professionals.

    It's wrong to say that the company says the tests are not for personal use, or that they are only for use in symptomatic people. From the insert:

    "When should/can I test myself?
    You can test yourself whether you have symptoms or not. Studies show that earlier testing within the first 4 days of illness typically means a higher viral load, which is easier to detect. Since the test result is a snapshot valid for that point in time, testing should be repeated as recommended by local authorities."
    Tony didn't say the Lidl ones are only 50% accurate, he said some antigen tests are. He should have named them as any of the ones i've purchased for work claim 98%+ accuracy on active Covid cases.
    Tony is taking about Covid cases, finding inactivate Covid cases is pointless, it leads me to believe the pcr test is reporting 50% of cases that aren't infectious by the same logic.
    I really think he's going to get pulled up on Monday for this deliberate attempt to mislead if Pat Kenny hasn't chocked eating his cornflakes after seeing the article.

    I agree. Some of the antigen tests are less accurate than others, and they are less likely to detect the virus after the first week of illness, when the viral load is lower, as well as less likely to detect it in asymptomatic persons --- the lowball figure of 58% combines all these negative factors. See here:

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/24/covid-rapid-lateral-flow-tests-should-not-be-used-for-test-and-release


    But if you had to go do something unavoidable and you were asymptomatic or had only, say, a headache or sore throat, you probably wouldn't go to a testing center for a PCR test first. You might do this home test though, and there is a not insignificant chance it would detect the virus and push you to confirm with PCR.

    I understand his concern, that people might rely on the home test too much and discard masks and distancing, but that is not their purpose. In my family's case, we have to bury a family member in a couple of days. Testing ourselves gives us a small degree of peace of mind, but we are still going to mask, sanitize, distance, etc. Of course if anyone tests positive they will not attend.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,336 ✭✭✭✭drunkmonkey


    That low-ball figure is just in relation to people with 0 symptoms, if you've 0 symptoms your chances of infecting someone is slim, it's still not at the 50% quoted by Tony, I can't see how he got that figure from any product available on the Irish market as if your buying from a legitimate business these tests need approval before sale.

    He's completely missing the point, like your example above it's just an extra layer of security which should be encouraged at events. If he's that worried about it missing an infectious case why doesn't he suggest two tests.

    I wonder what the real motivation is, anything that can break transmission even if its only half the time is a good thing. As you said the people using them wouldn't be going for a pcr test especially as Tony suggested when they're getting a pound of sausages.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,139 ✭✭✭✭normanoffside


    That low-ball figure is just in relation to people with 0 symptoms, if you've 0 symptoms your chances of infecting someone is slim, it's still not at the 50% quoted by Tony, I can't see how he got that figure from any product available on the Irish market as if your buying from a legitimate business these tests need approval before sale.

    When he says antigen tests miss 50% of asymptomatic infections; the studies they use are based on PCR tests.
    But 50% of the positive and asymptomatic PCR tests are most likely from past infections i.e. no disease to spread.

    The whole idea of using PCR positives as a 'gold standard' to measure everything else against is fundamentally flawed.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,545 ✭✭✭Martina1991


    When he says antigen tests miss 50% of asymptomatic infections; the studies they use are based on PCR tests.
    But 50% of the positive and asymptomatic PCR tests are most likely from past infections i.e. no disease to spread.

    The whole idea of using PCR positives as a 'gold standard' to measure everything else against is fundamentally flawed.

    You are making a complete blind assumption.
    Any dead viral material would yield weak positive result which has to be repeated to be confirmed.

    If a lab releases a positive result it is valid, and the swab contained a sufficient amount of viral RNA to confirm the presence of the virus.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,336 ✭✭✭✭drunkmonkey


    Nobody is saying it's not picking up the virus, the only thing that matters are active transmissible cases. The PCR tests people are offered for free does not distinguish between past and active virus. Colm Henry is on public record confirming the same.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,336 ✭✭✭✭drunkmonkey


    I'll let the man himself explain it..



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,545 ✭✭✭Martina1991


    You're only thinking about the results in isolation. No test is ever requested and interpreted on its own with no other contributing factors.

    Symptoms, exposure and areas of high incidence together with a positive result (and all the laboratory quality control procedures, controls and validations) all point to positive result being a legitimate, active positive case.

    Your caught up in the technicalities. You're ignoring all the processes that go into confirming what positive swabs are confirmed as cases.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,545 ✭✭✭Martina1991




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,336 ✭✭✭✭drunkmonkey


    I'm not, Colm Henry confirmed the pcr testes are reporting figures from long gone infection.
    You can throw in as many variables as you like the fact of the matter is it's happening and officially acknowledged.

    The real question that everyone is asking is why do NPHET refuse to acknowledge the positive role antigen tests can provide.

    As far as i'm aware in the UK everyone is entitled to 4 free antigen tests a week that can be picked up in a pharmacy.

    What is Houlihans problem, why is he so anti this?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,336 ✭✭✭✭drunkmonkey



    The Nobel prize winner that Invented it:rolleyes: have a look at his thoughts on Fauci and his abuse of PCR.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,545 ✭✭✭Martina1991


    I'm not, Colm Henry confirmed the pcr testes are reporting figures from long gone infection.
    You can throw in as many variables as you like the fact of the matter is it's happening and officially acknowledged.

    The real question that everyone is asking is why do NPHET refuse to acknowledge the positive role antigen tests can provide.

    As far as i'm aware in the UK everyone is entitled to 4 free antigen tests a week that can be picked up in a pharmacy.

    What is Houlihans problem, why is he so anti this?

    Colm Henry said: "it can pick up a residual RNA weeks after active infection and after a person is no longer infectious.” He did not say we are reporting cases from previous infections.

    That isn't some "gotcha" quote. All tests have limitations.
    Just because a test has that limitation does not mean that all positive results are suddenly called into question, dismissed and played down as insignificant.

    NPHET do not think they can play a significant role in mass testing from the studies, trials and reports they have conducted. They are being used in specific healthcare settings.




    You and I are never going to agree on it.
    We can volley over back about it but neither you or I make the decisions.
    If people want to use antigen tests, now they can buy them.

    NPHET review them and provide advice to government.
    I agree with them, you don't, and that is fine.


    The bigger picture for me is that we'll likely have less than 100 people in hospital with Covid by this time next week and hopefully another 250,000 vaccinations administered.

    Restrictions are easing without the need for these tests anyway. I just don't think there's a need for them.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,336 ✭✭✭✭drunkmonkey



    NPHET review them and provide advice to government.
    I agree with them, you don't, and that is fine.

    Here's another person that disagrees with Tony and yourself

    Professor Mark Ferguson, director general of Science Foundation Ireland, and chief scientific advisor to the Government.
    "Prof Ferguson said home antigen tests are perfectly fine and usually accurate in determining if someone is infectious with Covid-19 at the moment of testing."

    I don't see why your following Tony's lead on this one, you understand testing and you know these have a pretty good chance of picking up a transmissible case.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,336 ✭✭✭✭drunkmonkey



    Restrictions are easing without the need for these tests anyway. I just don't think there's a need for them.

    I'd agree to a certain degree but as long as social distancing is promoted, face coverings are mandatory, indoor activities are off the cards, outdoor events like concerts are banned I think it's necessary to have a cheap and effective solution to enable normality.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,545 ✭✭✭Martina1991


    Here's another person that disagrees with Tony and yourself

    Professor Mark Ferguson, director general of Science Foundation Ireland, and chief scientific advisor to the Government.
    "Prof Ferguson said home antigen tests are perfectly fine and usually accurate in determining if someone is infectious with Covid-19 at the moment of testing."

    I don't see why your following Tony's lead on this one, you understand testing and you know these have a pretty good chance of picking up a transmissible case.
    Ah yes the Ferguson report.

    I thought it was interesting that there's an asterisk at the top of the report denoting that 2 of the 5 members on the committee didn't agree with it.

    I've seen people misinterpret this report as a green light for the government to just start using these tests here, there and everywhere.

    What it recommends in the report is:
    Establish a number of major pilot / feasibility programmes focused on testing in priority target areas, that collect core, common outcome data sets including data on sampling, compliance, retention, accuracy, cost, acceptability and behavioural change, which will rapidly inform future widespread deployment of rapid testing.

    Yes it makes sense that first studies should be set up and their use should be rigorously tested and evaluated for all settings people want it to be used.

    They shouldn't be just handed out without determining if they are of any use. That would be a waste of time and money.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,675 ✭✭✭✭ACitizenErased


    Reports that serial testing of nursing homes is to end due to scarcity of cases


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,545 ✭✭✭Martina1991


    Reports that serial testing of nursing homes is to end due to scarcity of cases

    That's great news.

    It's incredible the effect the vaccine has had, when you think of the position we were in a year ago.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,336 ✭✭✭✭drunkmonkey


    Ah yes the Ferguson report.



    Ah yes, the one delivered this week?, from my reading of the q&a we need to move fast and everyone is in favour.

    I found it interesting that if a positive antigen test was captured the HSE can do a pcr test to get the person within their governance. It's thought it will help getting them onboard.


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  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    Ah yes, the one delivered this week?, from my reading of the q&a we need to move fast and everyone is in favour.

    Well except you know who, but I found it interesting that if a positive antigen test was captured the HSE can do a pcr test to get the person within their governance. It's their sweetener to get them onboard.
    The main thing I'm seeing is keeping the HSE in control of the data, I suspect this is NPHET's motivation in trying to mislead people about the effectiveness of antigen testing.
    He who controls the data controls the narrative.

    Christ almighty


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,336 ✭✭✭✭drunkmonkey


    Christ almighty

    Needed some rewording was working at the time, I'm confused as to why NPHET won't embrace it and actively rail against their use. Have you any idea?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,292 ✭✭✭0lddog


    .... I'm confused as to why NPHET won't embrace it and actively rail against their use. Have you any idea?


    Their attitude mirrors their attitude towards mask wearing early on in this whole shambles.


    Its an attitude with many parallels to the 'not invented here' attitude that blinkers many design engineers


  • Site Banned Posts: 52 ✭✭Chuzzle7


    0lddog wrote: »
    Their attitude mirrors their attitude towards mask wearing early on in this whole shambles.


    Its an attitude with many parallels to the 'not invented here' attitude that blinkers many design engineers

    I can see why nphet are worried with these rapid tests. I think rapid tests give people a false sense of security. Covid can feel like a cold in some people. The worry is having these people doing a self test at home with a negative result and off they go about their normal business. I think the tests can be very dangerous, people just do not understand. The amount of idiots who still can't wear a mask properly. It will be the same with these rapid tests.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,336 ✭✭✭✭drunkmonkey


    They're very easy use especially with the latest guidance, now you just need to swab the inside of your nose, put it in the solution for 60 seconds, drop it onto the test strip cassette and that's it your done.
    If you have a transmittable case of Covid the odds are close to 100% it will be detected. Masks are a different beast altogether, the hesitancy was over the danger of secondary transmission, now they can clearly see they're being misused yet still insist on their use which is counter productive in stopping the spread.

    Screenshot-20210509-080956-2.jpg
    Screenshot-20210509-080938-2.jpg


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