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Health officials in other countries have found it is much easier to detect omicron in the throat, and not the nose, with these antigen tests. This started with

by shmatt 5y ago

Health officials in other countries have found it is much easier to detect omicron in the throat, and not the nose, with these antigen tests. This started with a big wave of people who were PCR positive but nose antigen negative. When swabbing the antigen in the throat, the false negative percentage dropped Swab throat too during rapid COVID test, Israel's Health Ministry says https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/swab-throat-too-when-using-rapid-covid-test-israels-health-ministry-says-2022-01-10/ https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/...

causality0 5y ago
Thank you for that. It vibes with the people I know who likely caught Omicron, they all presented with sore throats.
malshe 5y ago
Washington Post reported that there is some disagreement among experts: https://archive.fo/1bIa4 https://archive.fo/1bIa4
- bmj 5y ago
  I would expect the FDA to push back against individuals doing throat swabs with an at-home test kit -- the organization approved these tests based on a specific testing protocol (nasal swab). The FDA won't offer alternative protocols until they've looked at test/trial data.
joncrane 5y ago
So wait, you're supposed to swab your throat and your nostrils now? So what's better, getting your throat spit up your nose, or getting your nose mucus in your throat?
- op00to 5y ago
  Follow the directions on the box. If it doesn’t say to swab your throat, maybe wait on that. Free styling on medical tests doesn’t always lead to repeatable results.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
- canttestthis 5y ago
  The article says throat first a couple times
- adhesive_wombat 5y ago
  The UK-issue lateral flow tests have always said to swab the throat (specifically the tonsils) and then both nostrils at about 2.5cm depth. Every time you sniff, you get nose mucous in your throat (what with them being connected and all), and when you sneeze quite a bit of throat mucous will is drawn up along with air. And now remember that your intestines are physically connected to your mouth by only a foot or two of squishy pipe and you'll be wishing for a nice clean robot body.
- adolph 5y ago
  Could get worse: U.S. diplomats in China were subjected to anal swab tests for Covid-19, a Department of State spokesperson confirmed Thursday, adding that a protest had been lodged with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/u-s-diplomats-china-subjected-anal-swab-testing-covid-19-n1258844 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/u-s-diplomats-china-subje...

by shmatt 5y ago

causality0 5y ago

Thank you for that. It vibes with the people I know who likely caught Omicron, they all presented with sore throats.

malshe 5y ago

Washington Post reported that there is some disagreement among experts: https://archive.fo/1bIa4 https://archive.fo/1bIa4

bmj 5y ago
I would expect the FDA to push back against individuals doing throat swabs with an at-home test kit -- the organization approved these tests based on a specific testing protocol (nasal swab). The FDA won't offer alternative protocols until they've looked at test/trial data.

joncrane 5y ago

So wait, you're supposed to swab your throat and your nostrils now? So what's better, getting your throat spit up your nose, or getting your nose mucus in your throat?

op00to 5y ago
Follow the directions on the box. If it doesn’t say to swab your throat, maybe wait on that. Free styling on medical tests doesn’t always lead to repeatable results.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
canttestthis 5y ago
The article says throat first a couple times
adhesive_wombat 5y ago
The UK-issue lateral flow tests have always said to swab the throat (specifically the tonsils) and then both nostrils at about 2.5cm depth. Every time you sniff, you get nose mucous in your throat (what with them being connected and all), and when you sneeze quite a bit of throat mucous will is drawn up along with air. And now remember that your intestines are physically connected to your mouth by only a foot or two of squishy pipe and you'll be wishing for a nice clean robot body.
adolph 5y ago
Could get worse: U.S. diplomats in China were subjected to anal swab tests for Covid-19, a Department of State spokesperson confirmed Thursday, adding that a protest had been lodged with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/u-s-diplomats-china-subjected-anal-swab-testing-covid-19-n1258844 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/u-s-diplomats-china-subje...