How reliable are the nasal swab tests?

[Orange Buffoon]

Can I be comfortable meeting an unvaccinated friend in close quarters, both of us masked with N95s, if she tests negative through a nasal swab test at Walgreen's earlier that morning? How safe is this?

[Evergreen Emerald]

1. 80%

Depending on when she was tested. I think she should wait to be tested 3-5 days after exposure.

[Orange Buffoon]

3. She would be tested about 90 minutes before our meeting, should get the results by the time we meet

She has not had an exposure that we know about.

[Ms. Toad]

5. I would be less concerned about timing or specific exposure,

and more concerned about the fact that you plan to be in close quarters.

If those close quarters are a car (i.e. you are giving the friend a ride) that would be a no-go for me. The virus lingers, and being unvaccinated is extremely risky.

[cadoman]

2. why risk it? now is the time to be a good friend and lay down the law

If your friend denies science maybe it's time to confront them about that.

Have them bring all their "evidence" to the table and then blow them out of the water with the real science. Keep Snopes handy to mediate the debate.

You would literally be saving their life.

[Ms. Toad]

4. The instant tests are "moderate to high" according to the CDC.

I would not meet an uvaccinated person in close quarters - EVEN with N95s and a negative test. COVID is crazy contagious.

My employee - fully vaccinated and one of the most careful people I know - caught COVID while masked (with no close quarters contact). She shared it with her vaccinated husband and 3 children.

In a larger space - that I was't planning on occupying unmasked later (e.g. a bench in a shopping center or simlar space) - I would be comfortable with N95 masks.

I use the Binax Now tests (likely the one your friend is planning to use) when I have been in a more risky space and have to teach 3-5 days after being in the more risky space. (I was at a fundraiser Saturday. I remained masked for all but about 5 minutes, but most people there were unmasked for at least 75% of the time. I teach tomorrow, and will use a test to ensure I am not carrying COVID from the fundraiser to my students.

[Dorian Gray]

6. masked?

I would feel okay doing it. My unvaccinated child is in school with other unvaccinated children and masks are doing the trick.

[greenjar_01]

7. Very

It's very safe even without the tests.

For goodness sake.

[Groundhawg]

8. For a long time they were pretty bad. They are pretty good now.

[CentralMass]

9. ...

[Demovictory9]

10. tell her to get vaxxed

[KentuckyWoman]

11. I have unvaxxed family that I've safely been with several times.

She has been working with docs for 3 years trying to figure out what is causing her symptoms. They've eliminated a lot but just about the vaccines came out they got down to possibly an auto-immune disorder. She's opting to delay vax for the short term. She's not anti-vax. She eating really careful trying to eliminate as much chemicals and pollutants possible. She's super careful where she goes and double masks.

We meet outdoors . Her porch, my covered patio, in a garage with the doors open in the winter, the park shelter. Masked, distanced etc. We use ALL the other tools.

After it was learned the virus does not survive will on surfaces, we use a big plastic sheet tossed over one of us for hugs.

Enjoy your friend. Life is short.

[Orange Buffoon]

12. Thanks to all who responded.

I think I'm going to go through with it. I've got the 3M mask--which is the best-fitting N95 mask I've come across, and I've tried a few--and a 3M for her as well. I will have had my booster shot 12 days ago. No known exposures on her part, and a (hopefully) negative swab test taken earlier in the day.