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With the HHS announcing they are going to restart the free #COVID tests program, seeing a lot of questions about whether they still work. Yes they do, but they aren't great at catching asymptomatic cases. Test frequently and repeatedly, and wear a mask! https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/18/health/covid-19-home-tests-still-work-wellness
Rapid tests still work for new variants as most target a part of the coronavirus (nucleocapsid protein) that doesn't mutate as much.
But rapid tests aren't as sensitive as PCRs so aren't catching asymptomatic cases with lower viral load (though you can still spread COVID).
@luckytran@med-mastodon.comThe mistake most people make is doing a rapid test too early when they are pre-symptomatic, & thinking one negative test is sufficient. Please test multiple times over several days. If you test positive it's most likely you have COVID, if you are negative, it may be too early.
@luckytran In my immediate family we have tested on Day 1, Day 3, and Day 5. This is after symptoms appear.
@CarolynStirling @luckytran
I have read reports from several people that tested positive after the symptoms disappeared.
@fae2535 @luckytran Yes. I should add my family waited till they tested negative before going back to work.
@CarolynStirling @luckytran
That's as it should be.
(I live in a place where testing is discouraged.)
This this this!!! When my husband had it last year he tested negative on days 1 and 3. Positive on his worst day (5).
@luckytran Something we found isnthat it’s handy to leave the rapid test out for 30 minutes instead of 15. We caught two cases in our househokd this way. After 30 minutes, we saw a very very faint line. The person isolated and, sure enough, the next day the test was clearly postive within 15 minutes.
@luckytran
Also, one of the current variants doing the rounds has all the symptoms of a cold. Just a bad cold. I didn't test positive at all, but still pretty sure it was #COVID19
@luckytran this is what happened to me over the Xmas hollidays. Even while becoming a snot factory I was testing negative until a day or two late4