Why the Government Purchased RATs21 Dec 2020 14:51
Information for new investors not following why the government got testing so drastically wrong. You might find helpful. Regular visitors here ignore as you already know it.
It comes down to several key points: -
Firstly, they were sold a pup, wanted a quick win, and believed the hype around accuracy and THOUGHT the Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) or Lateral Flow Test (LFT) as they prefer to describe it would be the solution to the problem.
They believed: -
• Speed was more important than accuracy. Waiting for a PCR Lab test too long to wait if someone has Covid.
• Use of LFTs would pick up the infectious quickly whilst missing those with low viral load which they perhaps erroneously thought to be “not infectious”.
• They failed to consider that even if low load people are not infectious, at the point of sampling, the virus replicates rapidly, and they will have a very high viral load in 24 - 48 hours and then become potential spreaders rendering testing in this way useless.
Meanwhile the PCR Gold standard test will detect those with even very low viral load. Hence, the PCR test will detect all potential spreaders where as the LFT will not, this is before we even consider those with the new strain of the virus will likely be missed 100% by the RAT.
Add to this the fact that as the general public in the main do not know the difference between an LFT and a PCR test, they consider a “test is a test” as do certain politicians (clueless) they are effectively “punching the air” having secured a negative LFT result believing they are virus free when they might not be and then continue mixing with others further spreading the virus.
The standing joke is a video that went viral of coke being put on the RAT and delivering a positive result. Not to mention another of Elon Must taking four RAT tests of which two came back negative and two came back positive!!! You couldn't make it up.
Even when discovering the accuracy level of the RAT was in question, the government then considered having two LFTs close to each other would solve the issue and push for even bigger orders of the tests. Jesus can all politicians please enrol back at infant school for math's Probability classes.
Concern continued to be focused on an incorrect positive result, interruption of work for front line health workers when they are virus free, so sending them on for a PCR test to clarify same, yet no concern whatsoever for incorrect negative results given when the individual can go on to infect others which was the bigger issue.
Fortunately, there is now light at the end of the tunnel, the roll out of RATs to care homes does not bear thinking about and was stopped in its tracks. The Birmingham University results have been fantastic to prove without doubt the issue.
“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results” Einstein. They now have a chance now to do the right thing and move to 100% PCR tests with a roll out network of mi
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