And to think, I was worried about a shortage of beds...(UPDATE)

[MissMillie]

Last edited Tue May 17, 2022, 09:58 AM - Edit history (2)

THAT was going to be the sticking point as to whether my guy was going to be able to get his surgery.

Until this morning, when I got a text from my sis telling me she had tested positive for COVID.

I was with her on Saturday when we went shopping for Dad's groceries. We shared a banana.

I suppose there's some chance that the vaccine and boosters means that I didn't get it, but right now I'm sitting here reading the test instructions and just feeling completely overwhelmed.

For the record, we've been very careful. We're all tested and boosted and we always wear masks when around people that are not part of our "bubble." Sis is pretty sure she was exposed at work, because someone she works with tested positive. Sis wears a mask at work.

I'm so anxious about a pending positive result (which I'm sure will mean that Al's surgery will have to be postponed) that I am not confident that I can follow the damned test instructions. I'm rattled.

UPDATED: I did at at home test which has come back negative. I will re-test on Friday.

[yardwork]

1. You're very likely to be ok, either way.

You're vaxxed and boosted. Even if you get it, it's likely to be mild. And you might not get it. I had Covid last fall and nobody else in my household caught it. Not even my wife.

[MissMillie]

3. I really do understand all that

Though, even mild cases can cause problems down the road.

The issue at hand was Al's surgery. We've been waiting for this for over a year, and all that time he has been in considerable (sometimes unbearable) pain.

[yardwork]

5. I do understand. I'm sorry you're going through this.

[Tickle]

2. For what it's worth

The sober homes I go to is full of positive people with Covid. They wear white suits so you know who tested positive. When I meet with them I do ask about their symptoms and how they feel. So far zero hospitalizations and they say they feel like they have the flu. What scares me the most is they also feel very lethargic and it lingers on far too long afterwards

[Walleye]

4. Take a deep breath and do the test. I messed up my first two tests, too

Best of luck and hope you get your surgery for your guy OK.

[MissMillie]

7. CDC says my at home test not accurate until 5 days after exposure

I imagine if it's inaccurate it would show a false negative, not a false positive... right?

[Unwind Your Mind]

10. I think that's right

False positives don’t really happen

[Celerity]

12. not true

False positives don’t really happen

The impact of false positive COVID-19 results in an area of low prevalence



https://www.rcpjournals.org/content/clinmedicine/21/1/e54

ABSTRACT

False negative results in COVID-19 testing are well recognised and frequently discussed. False positive results, while less common and less frequently discussed, still have several adverse implications, including potential exposure of a non-infected person to the virus in a cohorted area. Although false positive results are proportionally greater in low prevalence settings, the consequences are significant at all times and potentially of greater significance in high-prevalence settings. We evaluated COVID-19 results in one area during a period of low prevalence. The consequences of these results are discussed and implications for these results in both high and low prevalence settings are considered. We also provide recommendations to minimise the risk and impact of false-positive results.

Background

The UK's COVID-19 testing programme uses real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests to detect viral RNA. Public Health England reports that RT-PCR assays show a specificity of over 95%, meaning that up to 5% of cases are false positives. The impact of false positive results includes risk of overestimating the COVID-19 incidence, the demand on track and trace, and the extent of asymptomatic infection. The adverse consequences of false positive results are proportionally greater in low prevalence settings.3 We therefore evaluated the clinical implications of false positive results in one area during a time of low prevalence.

snip



snip

Conclusion

False positive results have the potential to cause harm in both high- and low-prevalence settings. Prevalence and the risk of harm needs to be considered when deciding on testing strategies. We believe that testing strategies need to be more agile and decisions on screening of various populations should be flexible and respond to the changing prevalence in the community or setting that is being investigated. Routine large-scale screening has the potential to cause the most harm in this respect and this risk needs to be balanced against the benefit that it will afford in any given setting. Large-volume screening at a time of low prevalence has the potential to do more harm than good and some large-scale screening strategies should be temporarily suspended when prevalence is very low. These strategies are likely to be of greater benefit in interrupting transmission during periods of high prevalence and we propose that they are re-instated when the prevalence in the community or particular settings warrant such an approach.

Careful interpretation of laboratory results is also required at all times, particularly in the context of screening asymptomatic individuals and cohorting positive patients. Low-level positive results in a single gene need to be interpreted with caution based on the clinical context. The Ct value can also provide useful information when assessing results and Clinicians need to become familiar with the interpretation of these results. Results should also be conveyed detailing the number of genes positive and the Ct value - not simply in a binary fashion (positive or negative).

[brer cat]

6. I'm so sorry, MissMillie.

You don't need his surgery postponed. Sending positive vibes your way!

[sinkingfeeling]

8. Take the test. I did not get Covid after spending a week with a

couple in Spain. We spent days together, traveled in a van, and I ate meals with them, even sharing tapas. They both tested positive when we tested for our return to the US. I had 5 negative tests over the next 2 weeks.

[Johnny2X2X]

9. Great news for you

There's this idea that the vaccines and boosters off very little protection against getting Covid, that at this point all they're doing is preventing severe disease, that is not true, according to the CDC, boosted people are about 4 to 5 times less likely to get Covid than unvaccinated people. That's still fairly significant for protection.

[MissMillie]

11. Well, becase this test was sooner than the 5-7 day recommendation

I'm keeping myself on lock-down (which believe it or not, is not all that different from my day-to-day life these days). At least until I confirm this w/ a second test.

Not out of the woods yet.

Al getting his surgery is the important thing. So until I can confirm this in a few days... I'll remain anxious.

[sinkingfeeling]

13. A PCR test can tell you if you are positive at 3 days from exposure.

[MissMillie]

14. Well,

I assume a PCR test is something I don't have access to at home.

Given that at the present time I have:

no working mode of transporttion, and
no insurance

I think I may as well just wait out the few necessary days. No point in putting anyone else at risk.