I think all of the rapid tests are the same as they’ve ever been, which is relatively inaccurate and therefore you are best taking multiple tests 48 hours apart to verify negativity. False negatives are relatively common, but false positives are rare. It’s not a great tool, but it’s one of the few we can get for free sometimes.
You gotta keep in mind false negatives are most commonly caused by user error and the test not detecting enough COVID antigens in the sample. Antigen tests gauge infectiousness. But even if you have symptoms you may still test negative because your body isn’t producing enough of the measurable antigens. So the antigen tests are one good tool to help gauge when you are no longer infectious.
If you’re testing negative after 14 days but still have symptoms then you might still be infectious.
I received the tests. Can confirm that they are leftover tests that the government extended the expiration date on. The ones I got expired almost a year ago, and even with the extended expiration date, are only good for three more months.
Also, they do not appear to be reformulated to better detect any of the covid variants.
Do these tests detect the latest strains? Are these just leftovers from the last time the government sent out free tests?
I think all of the rapid tests are the same as they’ve ever been, which is relatively inaccurate and therefore you are best taking multiple tests 48 hours apart to verify negativity. False negatives are relatively common, but false positives are rare. It’s not a great tool, but it’s one of the few we can get for free sometimes.
You gotta keep in mind false negatives are most commonly caused by user error and the test not detecting enough COVID antigens in the sample. Antigen tests gauge infectiousness. But even if you have symptoms you may still test negative because your body isn’t producing enough of the measurable antigens. So the antigen tests are one good tool to help gauge when you are no longer infectious.
If you’re testing negative after 14 days but still have symptoms then you might still be infectious.
I received the tests. Can confirm that they are leftover tests that the government extended the expiration date on. The ones I got expired almost a year ago, and even with the extended expiration date, are only good for three more months.
Also, they do not appear to be reformulated to better detect any of the covid variants.