Nhs Covid19 Antibody Testing At Home

[granny grump]

Just received an invitation to take part in this? I thought that they had already done this and a report had come out ?

[woofgang]

I think they are still working all over the world to produce an antibody test that will be reliable at an individual level. I understand from a friend who is in the program, that there is also a program of testing to get a "rangeing" figure of how many people in the population have had it. As they know the margin for error in the existing test they can use it to get a rough percentage figure over the whole tested group, ie they will know roughly how many people per thousand tested have antibodies but not which individual people's tests are wrong.

[granny grump]

Thankyou Woofgang

[fiction-factory]

This sets out the 4 pillars of testing which are ongoing. I think yours is probably under pillar 4
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-testing-data-methodology/covid-19-testing-data-methodology-note

[eve1974]

Grannygrump do u know why u got invited to take part? Had u prev had symptoms and / or diagnosed? Or was it totally random ? Curious.

[granny grump]

Thank you fiction factory.

Hi eve1974 The letter says that my name was chosen at random and participation is completely voluntary. We did have a test a couple of weeks ago as my husband was having hot sweats. Both came back negative.

[eve1974]

Ah ok.

On a completely diff note to covid. If ur husb had been having sweats had he also had a full blood count test? I say this not to alarm you but sweats can be part of the symptoms of leukaemia (my husband had acute myeloid leukaemia and sweated buckets are night!) ... Like I says don’t wanna be alarmist but it’s always worth checking

[Peter Pedant]

// ie they will know roughly how many people per thousand tested have antibodies but not which individual people's tests are wrong.//
erm yes and no
I wd have the test - but that is only coz I used to be a lab rat

The stat about who knows what - is it true is it false
is .... dependent on how many people have had it
but not really - - - how many tests you do [PPV}

and of course money and importance
HIV test ( wh this isnt) - positive means you are +ve
and negative means at the time of testing you are neg
no cross over - no mistake.

[dannyk13]

I have AB Negative blood in which there are no antibodies so how would this affect any test?

[pixie374]

How are there no antibodies, danny?

[pastafreak]

The "negative " means you don't have RhD antigens...
Explained here...

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/blood-groups/

[pixie374]

Yes, antibodies against other blood types. I had no idea that could affect a covid test. Thanks.

[dannyk13]

Pasta, I think you have misread that somewhat:-
//blood group AB – has both A and B antigens, but no antibodies//

[pixie374]

Surely, that means against the other blood groups? Type A has antibodies against Type B etc. It can't include all antibodies, or nobody would survive. I don't honestly know, it just never occurred to me that that's what it meant.

[david small]

Can’t see a doctor, can’t see a dentist, can’t see an optician, can’t see.....

[dannyk13]

Pixie, never seen an explanation of what it does mean except that there aren't any antibodies present in Group AB.

[Pooka1950]

Granny Grump are they offering to pay you (vouchers) for taking part?

[pixie374]

Danny, I think we need sqad or someone knowledgeable. I'd like to know as well. I always assumed it meant Blood Type antibodies, not those against viruses etc... or surely, you would just die from a cold? But look forward to a proper explanation, hopefully x

[pastafreak]

I thought the same as Pixie...otherwise you would be like the boy in the bubble.

[pastafreak]

I'm O negative...I'll give you my blood if you need it danny.

[dannyk13]

Ta Pasta, just syphon a litre off into a bottle and mail it.