Over-the-counter COVID testing kits in high demand, but how are accurate are they?

[SheltieLover]

https://www.localmemphis.com/mobile/article/news/health/coronavirus/over-the-counter-covid-testing-kits-are-in-high-demand-but-how-are-accurate-are-they/522-1ed2a1a8-2543-4f6a-a2c6-c7aec6869852

"You have to realize, anyone from tests from those is not going to be definitive because you will miss a substitutional number of those cases," Threlkeld said.

Here's what else you need to know about over-the-counter home tests, they are rapid antigen tests, meaning they can detect certain proteins in the virus. There are three common brands:

1. Abbott Binax Now

2. Eellume COVID-19 home test

3. Quidel QuickVue

and according to their clinical study, the accuracy varies. Abbott Binax Now's clinical study its brand is about 84% accurate at detecting positive cases and 98 percent accurate at detecting negative cases.

More info at link.

[underpants]

1. I just bought 100 tests today for work. Yeah we are paying to test people who won't get vaxxed.

The weird thing is I don’t know if we are getting the Quidel or Intelliswab. The vendor has the same SKU number for them so they can ship whatever they have. There’s a run on these things do to vaxx mandates. 100 is $1,600.00.

[SheltieLover]

2. Yikes!

Why are willfully unvaxed being tested free?

Whomever your company's clients are will end up paying / enabling the unvaxed.

[Maru Kitteh]

5. DAYUM. I have thousands, as in more than 3K Abbott tests in my office.

You can get them from Walgreens retail 2/$24.

Why so much for the tests you purchased? For just a couple boxes of tests?

[underpants]

6. It's $16 each so it's not THAT bad

Other than the fact that there is a FREE effective alternative

[Maru Kitteh]

3. I use Abbott Binax Now every single day at work, they are HIGHLY accurate when

the person being tested is symptomatic. They should not really be relied upon in the absence of symptoms in my opinion.

[SheltieLover]

4. Thx!

Are any of these good for asymptomatic?

[Maru Kitteh]

7. I don't know of any antigen test that has proven to have high specificity

with asymptomatic individuals. For that I would definitely suggest a PCR test at a testing site (what is commonly used in those drive-through tent sites).

If a person is asymptomatic, they should certainly ask what kind of test they are getting.

[SheltieLover]

8. Ty!

[Maru Kitteh]

9. No problem, happy to help.

[SheltieLover]

10. ...

[helpisontheway]

11. I have Quidel Quickvue at home and just purchased Binax for my son to keep in his dorm

The students are getting sick (some Covid and some other issues) and have to wait several days to be tested on campus. Plus there is a wait out in town. Parents said that these rapid tests are sold out at Walmart and local pharmacies. That’s why I decided to purchase Binax for my son.

[SheltieLover]

13. I hope he stays well.

[moondust]

12. New MIT saliva test.

Minimally Instrumented SHERLOCK (miSHERLOCK) device...currently requires a 3D printer to make because it isn't mass produced yet.

The device, which costs just $15, can detect specific coronavirus variants and is about 95% effective at detecting infections.
~
“Essentially the patient spits into this device, and then you push down a plunger and you get an answer an hour later.”
~
https://m.jpost.com/health-science/new-at-home-covid-test-can-detect-specific-variants-in-just-an-hour-676133/amp

https://wyss.harvard.edu/news/a-test-that-detects-covid-19-variants-in-your-spit/

[SheltieLover]

14. Awesome!!!

No 3D printer here though.

But it's about time there is a saliva test!

Ty!

[moondust]

15. Yes.

With that much promise I'm sure somebody will start mass producing it fairly soon.

[SheltieLover]

16. I sure hope so!

Ty for sharing!