so... spot the potential bullshit here. https://www.foxnews.com/science/third-blood-samples-massachusetts-study-coronavirus One third of participants in Massachusetts study tested positive for antibodies linked to coronavirus Around a third of participants in a Massachusetts study tested positive for antibodies linked with coronavirus, according to researchers. The Mass. General study took samples from 200 residents on the street in Chelsea, MA. Participants remained anonymous and provided a drop of blood to researchers, who were able to produce a result in ten minutes with a rapid test. CLICK HERE FOR FULL CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE Sixty-four of the participants tested positive – a “sobering” result, according to Thomas Ambrosino, Chelsea’s city manager. “We've long thought that the reported numbers are vastly under-counting what the actual infection is," Ambrosino told the Boston Globe. “Those reported numbers are based on positive COVID-19 tests, and we're all aware that a very, very small percentage of people in Chelsea and everywhere are getting COVID-19 tests." He added: “Still, it's kind of sobering that 30 percent of a random group of 200 people that are showing no symptoms are, in fact, infected. It's all the more reason for everyone to be practicing physical distancing." WHICH US STATES ARE READY FOR PHASE 1 REOPENING AFTER CORONAVIRUS LOCKDOWN? Ambrosino called Chelsea the epicenter of the crisis in Massachusetts. Chelsea has the state’s highest rate of confirmed cases, with at least 712 confirmed cases and 39 deaths – an infection rate of around 2 percent. Doctors used a device made by BioMedomics to analyze the samples. The test hasn’t been approved by the FDA, but Mass. General approved the device for use. While the participants appeared healthy, about half told the doctors that they experienced at least one symptom of COVID-19 in the past four weeks. Since participants remained anonymous, the doctors could not inform those who tested positive of their results. CORONAVIRUS TESTING FINDS BAY AREA INFECTIONS MAY BE 85 TIMES HIGHER THAN REPORTED Researchers hope to establish new test sites in other cities, with plans to obtain the identities of participants so they can be informed of their results. “Knowing how many people are infected is critical," said Dr. Dean Xerras, medical director of the Mass. General Chelsea Healthcare center. “We need to get them isolated. We need to get masks delivered to the city. We need to launch more safe isolation sites. We need to be able to identify cases and then give people the things they need to prevent perpetuation of the spread." CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP Massachusetts is currently the third-most infected state in the country, with around 34,400 confirmed cases and 1,400 deaths.
The biggest BS is demanding more and more tests for what purpose? Shouldn't the focus be on the seriously, ill and every attempt made to save their lives? Okay, there is no vaccine for the Corona Virus however, various medications have been found to have saved lives. Hydrochloroquine, Azithromycin in combination has been found effective to some degree, Remdesivir has been found to have been effective in curing some patients. You would think focus should be on testing drug combos to see which ones give patients the best chance to survive? New York continues to pile on the body count while, so called medical experts argue over statistical models of theirs? Then, you find out one day that the models are useless?
So you go and test a mere 200 residents at the top hot spot in Massachusetts (Chelsea). 64 of the residents test positive for anti-bodies. On top of this - "While the participants appeared healthy, about half told the doctors that they experienced at least one symptom of COVID-19 in the past four weeks." "Ambrosino called Chelsea the epicenter of the crisis in Massachusetts. Chelsea has the state’s highest rate of confirmed cases, with at least 712 confirmed cases and 39 deaths – an infection rate of around 2 percent." So 100 of the 200 residents in a top hot spot exhibited symptoms of COVID-19 in the past four weeks, and people act surprised when 64 out of the 200 test positive for anti-bodies in a quick blood test of questionable accuracy. On top of this the company providing the test, BioMedomics, has come under fire for inaccurate tests - including those distributed in North Carolina. BioMedtronics is small start-up located in our RTP area of North Carolina and has continually hyped itself for years -- claiming they have rapid tests for everything from sickle cell anemia to many other diseases. The FDA says that serological tests like those offered by BioMedomics are inaccurate and while the FDA would provide Emergency Use Authorization but would not likely ever approve the tests beyond the emergency use. Founded in 2007, BioMedomics is a privately-held clinical diagnostics company located in Morrisville, North Carolina.
So the tests are faulty, but it's perfectly fine to classify a death as covid without testing. Okay doomer.
Fox News, ha ha ha. The particular antibody test being used in the instance sited is 1) unreliable 2) a test for those who were infected ; not for those who are infected, unless they are in the later stages of the disease. Close to 100% of those who test positive by this antibody test should show no symptoms at all of Covid infection, and should not be capable of infecting others. Only those with an active infection will have symptoms. And that will also be close to 100%, although some will be lucky and only experience relatively mild symptoms -- fever, chills, muscle aches, dry cough -- compared to those who develop a pneumonia and end up fighting for their lives on a respirator...
I’m actually not that quick to knock these findings. While I don’t think the actual infection rate is one in three,it’s a guarantee that the infection rate is much higher than we all think. I live in a hot spot for Covid and I can say anecdotally a lot of people I know personally think they have had it and experienced minor symptoms. Now is this just allergies or cold and flu, it would be nice to know but without obvious respiratory illness there is no chance to get tested. I can say that right now when we look at back at this disaster we are living through that the biggest failure was the complete shit show on testing.
No. Many people could test positive for both having an active infection and also test positive on the antibody test. The test for active carriers tests for the presence of the virus. The antibody test tests for those who have had it but it cannot tell you how long ago it was or if they still have it. After all, the patient only recovers by increasing their antibodies to fight it and that occurs while the patient is actively ill but also continues for several weeks after they recover, which develops the immunity/if any for future exposures. You can give the patient a test for an active case (to check for the presence of the virus) along with the antibody test if you want to know both. Also, to state an obvious point which gets lost along the way, a lot of people who test negative for covid, will nevertheless go on to be infected later. It doesnt mean they are negative forever and a day. Just that they were negative last time you tested them.
The Germans have in planning, I think they may have already begun, a major antibody study. Quite likely they will be using a procedure with high reliability.