topic Re: at-home covid test in Wellness

at-home covid test

10sluvr — Sat, 20 Nov 2021 00:34:22 GMT

Has anyone done an at-home covid test? do you find out right away and do you think they are accurate? just saw them at CVS and i'm not sure i would trust results. thanks all.

Re: at-home covid test

tessam — Sat, 20 Nov 2021 01:16:02 GMT

My kids live in nyc and use Binax at home covid text on a weekly basis, It is the same rapid test given at health care facilities and results are ready in 15 minutes. While rapid tests can produce false neg. and positive results they are good indicators. You should always follow up with a PCR if you test positive.

Re: at-home covid test

Tinkrbl44 — Sat, 20 Nov 2021 01:00:11 GMT

@tessam wrote:
My kids live in nyc and use Binax at home covid text on a weekly basis, It is the same rapid test given at health care facilities and results are ready in 15 minutes. While rapid tests can produce false neg. and positive results they are good indicators. You sjould always follow up with a PCR if you test positive.

@tessam

PCR ?

Re: at-home covid test

tessam — Sat, 20 Nov 2021 01:15:34 GMT

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for COVID-19 is a molecular test that analyzes your upper respiratory specimen, looking for genetic material (ribonucleic acid or RNA) of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Scientists use the PCR technology to amplify small amounts of RNA from specimens into deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which is replicated until SARS-CoV-2 is detectable if present. The PCR test has been the gold standard test for diagnosing COVID-and is only administered at health care facility

Re: at-home covid test

Dusty1 — Sat, 20 Nov 2021 02:25:30 GMT

@tessam If they produce false negative & positive results, why would you take them. Either way you couldn't trust the result.

Re: at-home covid test

eaesquire — Sat, 20 Nov 2021 02:38:41 GMT

@tessam Thank you for that awesome level of detail. I learned something today

Also, I spoke with someone today who told me he got two negative rapid tests just before ending up in the hospital with COVID a year ago today. His story was enough to give me concerns about the reliability of the rapid tests.

Re: at-home covid test

skatting44 — Sat, 20 Nov 2021 03:38:58 GMT

@eaesquire

Yes, there are Error rates with both types of covid tests. Also, it depends on the quality of the specimen submitted. If a healthcare worker does not swab your nasal area properly than the quality of the specimen will be worthless.

Health care staff need to look at the patient and look at the symptoms and Not just rely on test kits that have error rates . People with covid symptoms need to seek medical care without delay as there are therapeutics that can be administered such as monoclonal antibodies early on. There's also other therapeutics such as others waiting for FDA approval. From my experience you need to be your own advocate.

Re: at-home covid test

Carmie — Sat, 20 Nov 2021 05:17:16 GMT

Yes, I have used them. The results are there in a about 15 minutes. A friend I visit twice a week in a nursing facility tested positive the day after I visited her.

I bought 2 boxes with two tests in each box. I and my husband both tested negative.

I gave one to a friend to try. He tested positive.

He called his family doctor who did a test in the parking lot of his office and test showed that he was indeed positive. He was unvaccinated and had no symptoms. The doctors advised him to quarantine for 14 days which he did.

I bought two more boxes with two tests in the box, so I have five tests if I feel I need them again. They're difficult to come by. I got mine at CVS for about $25 a box.

Re: at-home covid test

CalminHeart — Sat, 20 Nov 2021 12:36:56 GMT

At-home tests are not available here. My friend went searching for one three days ago for her elderly mom and had to drive 150+ miles to get one.

Re: at-home covid test

skatting44 — Sat, 20 Nov 2021 13:46:19 GMT

@CalminHeart

Labcorp website has some you can order online & sent to your home. You can have your health insurance or Medicare pay for them

Re: at-home covid test

tessam — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 05:45:12 GMT

Any medical test has a standard error of measurement and at home covid tests are no different. The value as I see it is it enables you to self test in the convience of your own home should you suspect you may have contracted it. It's a baseline that enables you to pursue confirmation early on very much like a home pregnancy test which also can produce inaccurate results. . The kits provide 2 tests to assist in accuracy. Many variables infuence the accuracy of the results. If you followed the instructions of the test carefully and you get a negative result, it’s unlikely that you have COVID at that time. However, there are some circumstances where you may get a false negative result, particularly if you test too early in the course of the infection (when viral load is not as high). If you are concerned about this, you could repeat the test a few days later which is why they provide you with 2 tests. Should you test positive, the next step would be to see your doctor for a PCR test to confirm results. Its just a tool that is an option if you so desire.

Re: at-home covid test

gertrudecloset — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 05:16:27 GMT

@tessam wrote:
The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for COVID-19 is a molecular test that analyzes your upper respiratory specimen, looking for genetic material (ribonucleic acid or RNA) of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Scientists use the PCR technology to amplify small amounts of RNA from specimens into deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which is replicated until SARS-CoV-2 is detectable if present. The PCR test has been the gold standard test for diagnosing COVID-and is only administered at health care facility

You go girl! @tessam

Re: at-home covid test

summerbreeze44 — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 10:43:31 GMT

I got a message on FB that my state of New Hampshire now offers two free test kits, each containing four tests. Thousands applied and they ran out of available kits the very same day. I was lucky enough to order early and should receive them in about a week.

Re: at-home covid test

Lipstickdiva — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 17:36:35 GMT

I know someone who took an at-home test before going on a cruise. She had to test no more than 2 days prior to her cruise. Her cruiseline did accept the at-home test but it had to be proctored. Apparently there was a number to call and she had to do it via video on her phone while the proctor watched.

All antigen tests whether done at home or at a clinic have a high level of incorrect results. That's why if you test positive with an antigen test, you are supposed to get it confirmed with a PCR test.

Re: at-home covid test

patbz — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 03:03:33 GMT

Starting in January 2022 there will be free at home Covid tests for both insured and noninsured. This is a step in the right direction.

Re: at-home covid test

teganslaw — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 14:07:20 GMT

It won't apply to those on Medicare or Medicaid, only those with private insurance or no insurance. That might change later, but as of now Medicare recipients aren't getting free at home tests.

Re: at-home covid test

Growing — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 17:36:35 GMT

I have now purchased 3 kits for the Binax Now by Abbott, which the FDA gave emergency clearance for. Apparently none of the home tests are actually FDA approved as the FDA is way behind. But anyway, I have not had to use it. I got one kit for my son who travels for his job. They are only $14 at the Walmarts near me and Walmart delivers for a cheap price in about 2 days. Each person is supposed to use the first one and then use the second one to confirm in 24 hours or something like that. So I had one kit with two tests and just ordered 2 more kits from Walmart yesterday and they will come tomrrow. Some Walmarts have them in the store, you can go to the online Walmart site and it will tell you where the nearest store to you has the kits. I just didn't want to go to a Walmart store so I paid the small shipping fee. With tax and delivery fee, it added about $10 more dollars.

Re: at-home covid test

hckynutjohn — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 21:11:23 GMT

@10sluvr

According to my nephew, who is an MD, and has tried several! From giving different tests given to him by Sales Reps of major companies! His results of of doing them on several patients at his Pain Clinics. He has found them to be accurate roughly 40% of the time.

Me personally? Unless I feel pretty bad I see no purpose for me to use one. I have enough confidence in knowing my body well enough to know when to see 1 of my doctors to get the most accurate ones.

hckynut