2019 Novel Coronavirus Covid-19 Discussion

Forums › Health and fitness › 2019 Novel Coronavirus Covid-19 Discussion

1 | ... | 1858 | 1859 | 1860 | 1861 | 1862 | 1863 | 1864 | 1865 | 1866 | 1867 | 1868 | ... | 2423

297 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2790789 6-Oct-2021 22:02

TeaLeaf:
Handle9:

They aren't mutually exclusive. Rapid tests are generally used in addition to PCRs not to replace them.

Bingo, that is exactly what I am saying. Both serve a purpose imo.

I also read or heard that the rapid test is actually banned in NZ at present due to its shortcomings.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#2790790 6-Oct-2021 22:06

Buster:

I also read or heard that the rapid test is actually banned in NZ at present due to its shortcomings.

Who, what, why where? Banned..... That is big news. Can you provide a source? cheers.

Handle9

11391 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2790792 6-Oct-2021 22:11

Buster:

I also read or heard that the rapid test is actually banned in NZ at present due to its shortcomings.

The MOH has been running a trial at Middlemore which will lead to them being approved.

Buster

297 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2790793 6-Oct-2021 22:13

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/453032/coalition-of-25-companies-want-to-import-370-000-rapid-antigen-tests-but-need-permission

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#2790794 6-Oct-2021 22:13

US had pledged to buy 230mill of them.

I'd still love to know where Hipkins is getting his information from. Anyway this is what science daily has to say

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abd5393

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#2790795 6-Oct-2021 22:17

Buster:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/453032/coalition-of-25-companies-want-to-import-370-000-rapid-antigen-tests-but-need-permission

I liked the analogy to a high viz jacket. I also think the non surgical n95 masks should be subsidised by the govt. But unlikely given they happy with people using almost anything as long as it covers the face, which imo is really misleading and is causing more harm than good potentially.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79285 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#2790798 6-Oct-2021 22:21

@TeaLeaf: Huh, its a common term of indererment Ive seen on GZ a lot, nobody had told me otherwise .

It's unacceptable. The FUG is pretty clear: no funny names. You don't see that a lot on Geekzone because if it happens moderators will let people know and change.

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

Buster

297 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2790799 6-Oct-2021 22:26

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#2790800 6-Oct-2021 22:29

freitasm:

It's unacceptable. The FUG is pretty clear: no funny names. You don't see that a lot on Geekzone because if it happens moderators will let people know and change.

That is fine, and why I removed it. TY Freit.

It seems 230mill doses must be pretty close to the entire population who are of age to recieve the vaccine?

From the science article i posted "Viral load decreases monotonically from the time of symptom onset (21, 45–48) but may be high and detectable 3 or more days before symptom onset"

panther2

374 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2790801 6-Oct-2021 22:30

Nz is way behind in the rapid tests you just need to ask those in the UK or Germany.. where it works well and you cam test at home and if you have a positive test you get a pcr done. Result in 10 to 15mins

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#2790802 6-Oct-2021 22:32

A bit long to quote Buster, but good find.

It does make sense, especially given the poor stats behind those who have flu like symptoms who will get a PCR test, which help officials will be well aware of. It may well fill the blanks for tracing as well.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#2790805 6-Oct-2021 22:36

panther2: Nz is way behind in the rapid tests you just need to ask those in the UK or Germany..

Couldn't agree any more. With family in both Countries it is a norm. We have identified many many things the govt is behind on. But hopefully this is something they can expediate, especially in the use cases where it will prove most useful (contact tracing, ongoing for border workers, those who will not get a test even with flu symptoms in NZ because its too hard etc)

Its just another really good tool that can hopefully keep our R number down once we released at 90-95%,

NZ at 50% fully vaccinated, that is growing quick. The total is creeping, I see 82% total booked (or had first jab), so while only 2%, hopefully they follow through.

Fred99

13684 posts

Uber Geek

#2790806 6-Oct-2021 23:08

panther2: Nz is way behind in the rapid tests you just need to ask those in the UK or Germany.. where it works well and you cam test at home and if you have a positive test you get a pcr done. Result in 10 to 15mins

We're only "behind" in terms of where we are in endemic covid spread.

False negatives are way too high, which leads to the risk that people will test negative, fail to get tested properly, and spread covid - that's even assuming people use the tests correctly if they're available for at-home testing.

From Medsafe:

COVID-19 point of care (POC) test kits use a blood or other bodily sample to detect antigens or antibodies in the body. There is concern, internationally, about the accuracy of POC test kits and the potential for them to be misinterpreted or provide a misleading result. The research to date indicates that these tests are not suitable for diagnostic purposes and have poor reliability. However, work on the accuracy and reliability of this type of test is currently being done.

The DG is authorised to approve them at any time when they're deemed useful for pandemic control.

Legislation is already in place to roll them out if and when it's needed:

https://legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2021/0066/latest/LMS451450.html

Fred99

13684 posts

Uber Geek

#2790807 6-Oct-2021 23:13

TeaLeaf:We have identified many many things the govt is behind on.

No you haven't.

As frustrating as it may seem, you're just someone without any particular expertise on pandemic control, posting random opinions on a forum.

Handle9

11391 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2790809 6-Oct-2021 23:24

Fred99:

panther2: Nz is way behind in the rapid tests you just need to ask those in the UK or Germany.. where it works well and you cam test at home and if you have a positive test you get a pcr done. Result in 10 to 15mins

We're only "behind" in terms of where we are in endemic covid spread.

False negatives are way too high, which leads to the risk that people will test negative, fail to get tested properly, and spread covid - that's even assuming people use the tests correctly if they're available for at-home testing.

They are fine as a population screening tool. With widespread covid infections the non-symptomatic can take a screening test and you can pickup half of those which further reduces the spread. In the UK and Germany they are being used this way for school kids. There's a DPI prick test that is used here in the same way.

I agree they are a waste of time without widespread infections, saliva and conventional PCR tests are much better tool for this stage.

1 | ... | 1858 | 1859 | 1860 | 1861 | 1862 | 1863 | 1864 | 1865 | 1866 | 1867 | 1868 | ... | 2423