Member Info for closey7

I have been mailed, today, by the DHSC, Imperial College, NHS and Ipsos Mori to take part in a Covid-19 home antibody testing research study.
‘This study involves taking an antibody test at home and will help the Government understand how many people in England may have already been infected with the virus that causes Covid-19. We have chosen your name at random, and participation is completely voluntary.’
‘If you agree, we will send you a package containing a finger-prick test to do at home. Please be aware that the antibody test is not 100% accurate at an individual level. This research will allow us to estimate how many people in England may have already been infected, but is not accurate enough to confirm whether or not an individual has definitely had Covid-19.’
‘There will also be a short online survey where we ask you to share the result of the test, the timing of any recent illness and what symptoms you may have had, and some questions about using the test.’
I have applied, via a questionnaire, to take part although there is no guarantee that everyone will be accepted.
If selected, I will keep the board updated with testing equipment, protocols, progress, timescales, results etc.
Further notes –
‘Your name was chosen at random from the NHS list of patients registered with a GP.’
‘We will be able to see the outcome of the antibody test within 10 to 15 minutes.’
‘This invitation is restricted to the person who received this letter. … it may affect the overall outcome of the study if the test is carried out by someone else.’
FAQs at https://www.ipsos.com/ipsos-mori/en-uk/covid-19-lateral-flow-antibody-tests-faqs
My observations –
- I do not believe that I have been exposed to the virus.
- It only mentions England.
- ‘not 100% accurate’. Begs a few questions! It will be interesting to see whose kit they are using.
- No mention of sample size.

Apologies if this has already been commented on but it seems to give a good summary of the state of play, albeit dated December 27th.
*****https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2021/12/27/pfizer-biontech-and-moderna-covid-19-vaccines-what-is-still-not-known/?sh=5cead1b15dd3
Headlines –
What duration of protection does each vaccine offer?
What is the true effectiveness of each vaccine?
Does the vaccine prevent you from being infected with the virus?
Can you still spread the virus if you are vaccinated?
How might the vaccine perform for people with different risk factors such as different levels of being immunocompromised?
Will the vaccines protect against Covid-19 coronavirus variants such as the ones from the United Kingdom and South Africa?
What are all the possible side effects of the vaccines?
How might the vaccine work in children and pregnant or breastfeeding women?
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All of which suggests that testing will be required for a very long time, especially with new variants appearing.
Stay safe.

I have just sent this epistle to my MP -
Could you please use your influence URGENTLY to try and get the Government to go on the offensive re the shambles etc at Dover?
- Why is there no PR against Macron’s aggression and obstructive, for local political reasons, antics? This will be of no consolation to those drivers unable to get home for Xmas but may help mitigate the dis-satisfaction. Give each driver a leaflet explaining the reasons and an immediate PCR test?
- Why is there no PR that the UK has far more accurate testing which is probably why the mutation has been identified before other countries? A number of which have also got the variant.
- Why are LFT tests still being carried out? Yes, I know the answer! Because the Govt stupidly ordered 20m cheap Innova tests from China; they are recognised as being UNRELIABLE (a la Liverpool, circa 50% accurate) with many false negatives that allows / encourages people to mix in the community. And in some circumstance, because of the unreliability, a PCR test STILL needs to be carried out. One can’t make it up.
- PCR tests are far more accurate; one UK company (Novacyt) has a test that is 100% accurate and does not take long to get a result. It also identifies variants and mutations. Why is their test not being used?
- This is not rocket science, or engineering, as you will appreciate (my MP has an engineering background). Johnson continues to dig a deeper hole. Get rid of the idiot please or we will not be voting for you again.

Good afternoon
From a newbie although I have been lurking, and invested, for many months. And really appreciate and admire the expertise on this board, especially ShaunP. It has fewer idiots than other boards.
I have received an email from Well Pharmacy who are advertising private testing – at £120!
Extract –
Hi there
Whether you need to get tested for work, are hoping to travel, or are attending a key event, we now offer a COVID-19 Test through our online pharmacy shop. The test kit will allow you to take a swab and send it off to a lab for analysis to check you don’t have a COVID-19 infection at the time of testing. The test is 99% accurate*, and can be completed from the comfort of your own home.
Quick turnaround
Get your results within 2 working days from the online portal.
At home test
Take the test from the comfort of your own home.
Fast delivery
Purchase before 5pm Monday-Friday to get your test kit the next day.
Test for travel
Test negative and receive a fit to travel certificate.
Well Pharmacy team
*PrimerdesignTM Ltd. Coronavirus (COVID-19) genesig Real-Time PCR assay.
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Extract from their website. Please take out the star as I understand it will fail as it is my first post.
H*ttps://www.well.co.uk/coronavirus/covid-19-test?utm_medium=email&utm_source=klaviyo&utm_campaign=covidpcrtestnov23&utm_content=a&_ke=eyJrbF9lbWFpbCI6ICJhbGFuZnJhc2VyQGJ0aW50ZXJuZXQuY29tIiwgImtsX2NvbXBhbnlfaWQiOiAiU3dlRXd0In0%3D
‘What does the COVID-19 Test do?
Whether you need to get tested for work, are hoping to travel, or are attending a key event, we now offer a COVID-19 Test through our online pharmacy shop. The test kit will allow you to use a swab and send it off to a lab for analysis to check you don’t have COVID-19 infection at the time of testing. The test is 99% accurate**, and can be completed from the comfort of your own home.’
With footnote - ‘**PrimerdesignTM Ltd. Coronavirus (COVID-19) genesig® Real-Time PCR assay’. I have emailed them for confirmation.
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It would be interesting to know what their profit on each test is; seems exorbitant and, arguably, immoral in these awful times.
Best wishes and stay safe,
Alan