I'm sick in B.C., Canada and just discovered that I can no longer get a PCR test - HCW still qualified last time I had a respiratory infection in spring 2022). The local laboratory no longer even sells private PCR tests. The nearest location to buy a PCR is ~ two hour drive away. This is all set up to hide how many infections are still happening and prevent people from qualifying for disability later. This is all so wrong. Every person is considered disposable in this hellscape of a society that we live in. #COVIDIsNotOver #CapitalismKills
@LauraleeDukeshire We can still get rapid tests free at the pharmacies https://www.bcpharmacy.ca/rapid-tests/list
@annecavicchi I've stocked up on rapid tests, again. I do wonder how accurate they are, at this point. I have recovered from my illness.
@LauraleeDukeshire @annecavicchi
Hi, I intervene very late on this thread, but better late than never I guess
Concerning RAT's sensitivity, I found last year this piece of data :
https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/table/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.44.2100441.t1?fmt=ahah&fullscreen=true
It suggest RAT's sensitivity is quite variable from a brand to an other mostly quite bad : The mean sensitivity over all brands and all viral concentration (last column) is 54.6%
Not much better than tossing a coin ...
@LauraleeDukeshire @annecavicchi
As anecdata I got covid in spring 2022 (outside at a familly bbq, I removed my ffp2 for 15min to eat ...) I tested with RAT everydays for 8 days after (fortunately very slight) symptoms onset => All negatives
PCR test on the 6th day was positive
I still have access to free PCR in France so I ditched RAT altogether. only PCR
@LauraleeDukeshire I hope you feel better soon!
I have now learned that FP's can take these swabs in BC. Which was a surprise to me - as an FP - because I can't recall any info from PH about that.