COVID-19: Vaccine/antidote and testing procedures Megathread [Mod Warning - Post #1]

https://twitter.com/NCEMAUAE/status/1305531641130094597?s=20

ACitizenErased wrote: »

Very vague as to what vaccine?

Should be this one:

https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/sinopharm-shares-phase-2-data-inactivated-covid-19-vaccine

It was in phase 3 in UAE since late August. They must have liked what they saw in the trial then.

theguzman wrote: »

The thing with the vaccine is will we see Varadkar and Micheal Martin getting it? I reckon Varadkar will probably make a twitter video of him getting injected with the vaccine like he did previously getting a HIV/Aid's test. When I see these guys taking it and not dying after then I'll be happy enough to take it myself.

Tens of thousands of people worldwide have already been given the various vaccines, why do you have to wait for those two before you make up your mind?

Can someone with knowledge of how PCR works clarify something for me?

In De Gascun's twitter thread he spoke about Ireland using a CT amplification between 35 and 45 for the PCR tests. Am I right in saying that anything above 30 will detect even the most miniscule viral quantity and give a positive test result?

ACitizenErased wrote: »

Can someone with knowledge of how PCR works clarify something for me?

In De Gascun's twitter thread he spoke about Ireland using a CT amplification between 35 and 45 for the PCR tests. Am I right in saying that anything above 30 will detect even the most miniscule viral quantity and give a positive test result?

Not that very knowledgable on this but from any study I've read that tries to establish a correlate of infection for Ct values, going above 35 would be of questionable utility.

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine scientists have isolated the smallest biological molecule to date that completely and specifically neutralizes the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is the cause of COVID-19. This antibody component, which is 10 times smaller than a full-sized antibody, has been used to construct a drug—known as Ab8—for potential use as a therapeutic and prophylactic against SARS-CoV-2.

The researchers report today in the journal Cell that Ab8 is highly effective in preventing and treating SARS-CoV-2 infection in mice and hamsters. Its tiny size not only increases its potential for diffusion in tissues to better neutralize the virus, but also makes it possible to administer the drug by alternative routes, including inhalation. Importantly, it does not bind to human cells—a good sign that it won’t have negative side-effects in people.

https://www.pittwire.pitt.edu/news/pitt-scientists-discover-tiny-antibody-component-highly-effective-preventing-and-treating-sars

Some info on how long it would take to produce vaccines for everyone on the planet. Article is from the Financial Times.

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/health-pharma/not-enough-covid-19-vaccine-for-all-until-2024-says-biggest-producer-1.4354384

the chief executive of the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer has warned that not enough Covid-19 vaccines will be available for everyone in the world to be inoculated until the end of 2024 at the earliest.

Adar Poonawalla, chief executive of the Serum Institute of India, told the Financial Times that pharmaceutical companies were not increasing production capacity quickly enough to vaccinate the global population in less time.

“It’s going to take four to five years until everyone gets the vaccine on this planet,” said Mr Poonawalla, who estimated that if the Covid-19 shot is a two-dose vaccine – such as measles or rotavirus – the world will need 15 billion doses.

Obviously this would be the current situation - it's likely that once an approved vaccine is ready, production can and will be ramped up significantly, and any logistical issues can be sorted out. And he's talking about the population of the entire world, obviously some people will get vaccinated sooner than others.

ACitizenErased wrote: »

Can someone with knowledge of how PCR works clarify something for me?

In De Gascun's twitter thread he spoke about Ireland using a CT amplification between 35 and 45 for the PCR tests. Am I right in saying that anything above 30 will detect even the most miniscule viral quantity and give a positive test result?

Most Thermocycle Platforms run between 40-45 Cycles, a positive is detected when you hit the threshold (ie. the point where the Florescence increases exponentially)




Each cycle doubles the amount of copies, if you have absolute minimal amounts of RNA to start with then the Ct is going be high. If you have absolutely no RNA in your system then it wont cross the Negative control.

I give you an example ... and this is just my opinion.

if a patients Ct is 10-20 that's a lot of copies per ml to start with, its a very strong sample. I would say that patients is highly infectious as they have a high concentration of virus so its possible they are replicating and shedding virus. Although this is not a rule its my opinion.

if you are getting close to 30 then you are detecting very low concentration of virus, this could be that you have been infected and recovered and are now clearing the virus.... but it could also be a weak sample because you just been infected and are in the early stages and the virus has not replicated enough in your body to provide a strong result. hence the dilemma.

I would also say there are other factors such as the patient, the quality of the sample taken by the collector etc.

All the test does is detect whether RNA is present or not


I would dismiss anything over 34 as a true positive myself.

Only in China or worldwide?