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>Anecdotally, I know someone who has been infected twice How does he know he was infected twice? Saying that a PCR test returned positive values two times isn

by _red 5y ago

>Anecdotally, I know someone who has been infected twice How does he know he was infected twice? Saying that a PCR test returned positive values two times isn't a great answer - since by its nature PCR is only counting the existence (above the programmed threshold post amplification). Serology is the only way to know for certain you were/are infected. This highlights one of the bigger issues we have: PCR test are a very cheap and a useful way for getting estimates but their failure rate is high enough to make it pretty poor basis for doing large scale data analysis.

rootusrootus 5y ago
PCR. About 9 months apart.
- cybernautique 5y ago
  Out of curiosity, couldn't this patient have experienced a case of long-haul covid?
  - AuryGlenz 5y ago
    I’ve had COVID twice - in December and then just a few weeks ago. Long haul COVID doesn’t spring back to life and give you a fever for 12 days straight. I had essentially the same symptoms both times: fever, extreme fatigue, a dry cough, complete loss of taste of most things, etc. Long story short, even if you didn’t get tested one of the two times (I tested positive both times) it’s pretty freaking obvious what you have as long as you don’t have a mild case. My wife got it this time around, and we got her an infusion of monoclonal antibodies early as she’s pregnant. She only had a fever one night, and in trying to explain how she felt I asked her “it feels like you just want to stop existing, right?” She agreed. Before that night it just seemed like a cold for her.
    - cybernautique 5y ago
      Thank you! I've been fortunate enough to not experience covid, though I've had quite a few family members with cases ranging from annoying and acute to quite devastating and chronic. I appreciate your input; though it's anecdotal, it does help give some greater sense for the individual experience of covid. Although let me not be crass: you have my greatest sympathies for your ill-experiences. I sincerely hope that you're well-recovered, and I wish the best for your loved ones.

by _red 5y ago

rootusrootus 5y ago

PCR. About 9 months apart.

cybernautique 5y ago
Out of curiosity, couldn't this patient have experienced a case of long-haul covid?
- AuryGlenz 5y ago
  I’ve had COVID twice - in December and then just a few weeks ago. Long haul COVID doesn’t spring back to life and give you a fever for 12 days straight. I had essentially the same symptoms both times: fever, extreme fatigue, a dry cough, complete loss of taste of most things, etc. Long story short, even if you didn’t get tested one of the two times (I tested positive both times) it’s pretty freaking obvious what you have as long as you don’t have a mild case. My wife got it this time around, and we got her an infusion of monoclonal antibodies early as she’s pregnant. She only had a fever one night, and in trying to explain how she felt I asked her “it feels like you just want to stop existing, right?” She agreed. Before that night it just seemed like a cold for her.
  - cybernautique 5y ago
    Thank you! I've been fortunate enough to not experience covid, though I've had quite a few family members with cases ranging from annoying and acute to quite devastating and chronic. I appreciate your input; though it's anecdotal, it does help give some greater sense for the individual experience of covid. Although let me not be crass: you have my greatest sympathies for your ill-experiences. I sincerely hope that you're well-recovered, and I wish the best for your loved ones.