Random Covid Testing

[sherrardk]

Anyone else been invited to be randomly tested for covid? Himself got an invite this morning.

[ummmm]

jno - I was admitted into hospital. They tested me before I got onto the ward.

[emmie]

not so far, though if someone asked me not sure i could get to the doctors of wherever the test might be...

[fiction-factory]

Yes this survey been mentioned a few times in the briefings. It helps establish the estimates for the R0 figure (although I know some here dismiss this R0 'measure' as worthless)

[ChillDoubt]

Still not sure why they’re randomly testing Joe Public.

My sister asked last week if I’d been tested yet and I just laughed and said the only way we’ll get tested is if we present with symptoms!

Not really sure what the rationale is tbh.

[jim360]

The rationale is probably that random testing can give us the best possible idea of the scale of the virus so far.

[fiction-factory]

The idea get a representative sample of the population so they can work out key statistics such as the proportion of people who have it and I think it also covers the antibody test to see how many have had it, and to gets stats such as R0.
The results from those who have been tested under the 100000 a day programme because they have symptoms tells them nothing about the rest of the population I guess

[ChillDoubt]

The rationale is probably that random testing can give us the best possible idea of the scale of the virus so far.
————-
Problem there is that lots of us who are frontline NHS could well be asymptomatic and some 7 weeks in still haven’t been tested.

[Hopkirk]

Have they got an effective anti body test yet, to see who's had it?

[fiction-factory]

Hopkirk- they have one that is accurate/ reliable enough for this sampling exercise but not for giving a 97% or whatever is needed for accuracy for a reliable individual test

[Peter Pedant]

//Wonder how random it is then, there must be some sort of criteria.\\
no criteria will make it a selection
- selected according to the criteria

so the only criterion is - - - that it is random

anyway it is impt so tell the old bugga to turn up and give a specimen. - It LOOKS like the infection level is around 8% which is NOT what the know-alls anticipated

[fiction-factory]

CD - what testing would you suggest for NHS staff without symptoms. Weekly may still not be enough and would probably need far more capacity than we can ever get

[Peter Pedant]

// Have they got an effective anti body test yet, to see who's had it?// short answer is no not yet

[Hopkirk]

I didn't think so.

[Peter Pedant]

// random testing can give us the best possible idea of the scale of the virus so far.//

quite right - but the rate looks like less than 10% - which is NOT what the great and good were anticipating. The truth actually is out there.

that is there are various stats out there which are only consistent with a prevalence rate of 10% - so we actually now have a good idea what it is, but the great and good are saying - "christ that cant be right can it?"

[MargoTester]

My son got one yesterday