Re:Order your rapid tests from the USPS (US only)
by tablespoon on Tuesday January 18, 2022 @05:40PM
(#29987147)
> I am starting to wonder at the efficacy of the tests and is it that they just can't catch Omnicron as well? Are my kids really just sick with some other random thing despite dozens of people in our social circle getting COVID?
My understanding is:
1) Existing rapid tests are not as sensitive to Omicron as previous variants.
2) Negative results on rapid tests are unreliable, especially single negatives. They're more reliable when taken in series, and the instructions for the ones tell you to take two tests, 3 days apart. However, their positive results are very reliable, so if only 75% of the positive people who take one actually test positive, you've still successfully detected 75% of those infections.
PCR tests are far better at detecting infections early.
My understanding is:
1) Existing rapid tests are not as sensitive to Omicron as previous variants.
2) Negative results on rapid tests are unreliable, especially single negatives. They're more reliable when taken in series, and the instructions for the ones tell you to take two tests, 3 days apart. However, their positive results are very reliable, so if only 75% of the positive people who take one actually test positive, you've still successfully detected 75% of those infections.
PCR tests are far better at detecting infections early.