I cannot believe how poor the penetration is for this story. It feels like I’m manually telling everyone I know, and they’re each hearing it for the first time.
The free rapid tests that Shoppers Drug Mart has been distributing are duds! They throw a false negative at everything but the highest viral loads!! A negative result from one of these is basically zero information!!! Do not rely on them!!!!
Tell your friends, save lives.
https://globalnews.ca/news/10183219/covid-test-supplier-canada/
@elana hmm.
I’d say, instead:
- it’s shitty that they fudged data and cheated the government, but they still have helped lots of people realize they were infected and highly infectious, it’s not that they’re duds
- LOTS of rapid tests are just as insensitive, it’s not that these are especially bad
- better tests exist, and if you’re buying them instead of using free ones, buy those instead, here’s a link /1
@IPEdmonton I'm so glad people are seeing your valuable contributions!!!!!!!!!!!
@IPEdmonton @robryk @elana The thing is, they are the only testing tool the vast majority of us have access to.
@kataclyst @robryk @elana yes, and so we should use them. But we should simultaneously be doing our best to purchase ones like the above, that do work much better, and also to be aware of the shortcomings of even the best rapid tests.
@kataclyst totally valid, and they still have their uses, it's just really important to understand their limitations (positives are meaningful, negatives are not a guaranteed free pass to share air). Actually this is kind of true of all the rapid tests, but these ones turned out to be especially insensitive!
@IPEdmonton @robryk @elana The ones currently on offer have an expiration date of February, 2024. Not sure how seriously one should observe that.
@kataclyst @robryk @elana I bought only a small amount for that reason.
@robryk @elana sorry, I wrote that just for Elana and was just using shorthand to convey to her what I'd tell others instead of what she's been saying. I assumed she knew the link (and still assume that), but here it is for you! https://www.medsupmedical.com/products/acon?variant=40755438158032
Just remember, though, that while these tests are A LOT more sensitive than the ones provided by Canadian governments, they're still not enough to PROVE that you're NOT infected. If you need to know that, any rapid test is the wrong tool.