WHO just announced distribution of 15 minute on the spot Covid 19 test

[scorecard]

The WHO supremo just on TV announcing the 15 minute on the spot Covid 19 test.

 

It was mentioned it's 94% accurate (most tests used so far, even those taking several days to process around 97% accurate).

 

My question for the medical experts; is it possible to tweak the accuracy of the on the spot test to 97% or even higher?

 

Please share your knowledge / expertise on this.

 

(Not looking for 'conspiracy theories', 'fake', 'it will go away soon' 'it only affects old people so why should I restrict my movements' etc., comments.)

Edited September 29, 2020 by scorecard

[johng]

I saw a report that they are using "sniffer dogs"  at Helsinki airport and they can  detect it  accurately in about 4 seconds !

[ExpatOilWorker]

The problem is who do u test?

Assuming 1% of a population have Covid19 then if you randomly test people, only 15.8% of positive test will be correct.

[Surelynot]

Good to see that Boris is sticking with the 90 minute spit test being developed by his buddies.....would hate to see the tourist and aviation industry salvaged.

[DrTuner]

What's the sampling method? It also has a large effect on the accuracy. 

[rabas]

This is probably referring to Abbott's new $5, 15 minute antigen test for tracking COVID-19.  first announced by Abbot last month.

 

Coronavirus: BBC Sept 28: New global test will give results 'in minutes' ... WHO said 

 

The $5 (£3.80) test could transform tracking of Covid-19 in less wealthy countries, which have shortages of healthcare workers and laboratories.

 

Also in the Guardian now. 

 

"Global initiative will supply 120m rapid antigen tests to low- and middle-income countries"

Edited September 29, 2020 by rabas

[oompie69]

If this actually works, and is as accurate as they say, it could be implemented at all airports and become part of the check-in process. Thus doing away with the 72 hour PCR test requirement.

Now all that is needed is that the WHO convinces countries to buy into this test and get them to open borders to visitors again. 

[DrTuner]

3 hours ago, rabas said:

This is probably referring to Abbott's new $5, 15 minute antigen test for tracking COVID-19.  first announced by Abbot last month.

 

Coronavirus: BBC Sept 28: New global test will give results 'in minutes' ... WHO said 

 

The $5 (£3.80) test could transform tracking of Covid-19 in less wealthy countries, which have shortages of healthcare workers and laboratories.

 

Also in the Guardian now. 

 

"Global initiative will supply 120m rapid antigen tests to low- and middle-income countries"

Ok, that's a nasal swab. You need to stick the swab far enough and really gouge to get a good glob. There were reports in Finland in the first months that they didn't dig deep enough and got false negatives at first.

 

The real "killer app" would be cheap and reliable saliva test, where you don't have to <deleted> the skin or dig to the back of the skull. Then people could use them like pregnancy tests, it wouldn't even have to be that accurate if it's widely used, it would be enough to spot clusters.

[scorecard]

8 hours ago, oompie69 said:

If this actually works, and is as accurate as they say, it could be implemented at all airports and become part of the check-in process. Thus doing away with the 72 hour PCR test requirement.

Now all that is needed is that the WHO convinces countries to buy into this test and get them to open borders to visitors again. 

Plus WHO/pharma companies quickly work on improving the accuracy of the test up to at least 97% accurate and higher. (97% seems to be the published accuracy of the nasal swab tests. But why not develop all tests to higher accuracy, with perhaps 99% accuracy as a goal.) 

[AndrewMciver]

The UK have just invested massively in a test that takes around an hour. 

 

This one is cheaper - apparently no more than $5. 

 

DOH ! 

[scorecard]

8 minutes ago, AndrewMciver said:

The UK have just invested massively in a test that takes around an hour. 

 

This one is cheaper - apparently no more than $5. 

 

DOH ! 

Seems to me that everything about Covid 19 is a work in progress and I seriously hope there will be prompt further knowledge building, invention of tests/treatments, all of which will possibly cause confusion regarding investment money et. So be it.

 

By the way what is the accuracy % for the new UK test mentioned? 

Edited September 29, 2020 by scorecard