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In many places the number of tests run (on suspected cases not just random) is 10x the positive cases... and still there are thousands positive. I don't think t
by kurthr 7y ago
In many places the number of tests run (on suspected cases not just random) is 10x the positive cases... and still there are thousands positive. I don't think the exponential growth is behind us... even in China.
- taeric 7y agoIn many places, the tests run are well behind people already recovering from the mild cases. Would they show as negative or positive? (Genuinely asking.)
- adrianN 7y agoTests are negative once you're recovered. The tests check for the presence if viral RNA.
- kurthr 7y agoYes, we would need an antibody test (typically much easier/faster/cheaper) to detect whether you had the disease and developed antibodies... although those antibodies fade with time, and it doesn't tell you if you're currently infections. So it would make sense at some future date to run a quick antibody test, and if positive run the longer 6+hr RT-PCR for 2019-nCoV. The concern is that someone could become reinfected either due to insufficient immune response or small evolution in the virus surface protiens, which could also make it more or less virulent.