Antibody testing ASAP
Once this is available we can know who has had the virus etc. Those who have it can remain isolated and take appropriate measures if need be. I think antibody testing for NHS staff should be main priority too as well as carers and key workers.
Why the contribution is important
It’s important because this is how we know who is safe to be out and about. Also important as these people, including myself are dealing with the public and although we may have no symptoms we could be carrying the virus. We want to prevent spread where ever possible.
by ashleyclearyxx on May 09, 2020 at 04:51PM
Posted by JLMBD May 09, 2020 at 17:26
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Posted by sylviaeb May 09, 2020 at 17:49
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Posted by petermuir79 May 09, 2020 at 17:51
Why are reporters asking the hard questions to the government.
An antibody test would allow us to unlock the lockdown.
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Posted by JLMBD May 09, 2020 at 18:15
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Posted by Arete May 10, 2020 at 04:02
To be successful, it does indeed require accuracy in testing, but that will always carry some probability of error (and one that likely cannot be totally mitigated even by repeated tests). Modelling can presumably show the effect on the all-important R-value of the known accuracy of any currently-available antibody test, so it does not need to be (infeasibly) perfect, just "good enough".
Lack of resources may be a more significant impediment in the near future, though, I suspect.
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Posted by ellied1 May 10, 2020 at 08:02
Having been denied tests when we might have had it lightly or even asymptomatically, there could be many people distancing, isolating or shielding who are suffering unnecessarily.
And both these groups could be rebuilding the economy, supporting frontline workers and donating plasma for use in current hospitalised cases, without waiting for a commercial product to be synthetically produced, tested for safety in humans and then sold to us with a huge price tag.
I have heard of the Edinburgh product passing testing and orders coming in from Europe and globally but not from the UK NHS. What's the point in continuing the uncertainty for everyone if some could be freed up and potentially save lives in a very direct way?
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