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

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.9
Based on: 21 votes

Comments

  • Posted by JLMBD May 09, 2020 at 17:26

    There is currently no reliable antibody test available. Government tests show them to be inadequate.

  • Posted by sylviaeb May 09, 2020 at 17:49

     the test is made here in Edinburgh , cheap , fast and accurate.

  • Posted by petermuir79 May 09, 2020 at 17:51

    This should've been a top priority from day 1, why has it taken so long to get an antibody test.....national scandal.
    Why are reporters asking the hard questions to the government.

    An antibody test would allow us to unlock the lockdown.

  • Posted by JLMBD May 09, 2020 at 18:15

    The claim is that the antibody test is accurate but it isn't proven in trial so far. Do you really think the test would not be in use if it was trialled and shown to work to an acceptable standard? Inaccurate results would be worse than no results. False positive keeps people isolated unnecessarily but worse, false negative allows the carrier back into the community and probably not as careful with hygiene as they should be. From a scientific point of view is is not easy to create a test that can definitely show C19 differently from another coronaviruses.

  • Posted by Arete May 10, 2020 at 04:02

    This is a highly-desirable suggestion, and an important key to progress.

    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.

  • Posted by ellied1 May 10, 2020 at 08:02

    Antibody testing for having HAD the virus and being available for work, voluntary activities and contact with others who have also had it, is surely the only way forward.

    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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