As a nurse practitioner, I just want to express my opinion from a healthcare perspective who recently had covid and went through these tests.
1. PCR testing will always be better at detection than rapid tests, but approved rapid tests are also very reliable. Timing of the tests is also very important.
a. That being said, I use a 2-prong approach when I tested myself.
2. The rapid tests may not seem "reliable" because you have to have enough of a viral load in order for it to be detected.
a. Imagine sand at the beach, sand on the pier or boardwalk, sand in your car on the drive home, and how much sand is in your car months later. Big difference right? Well the virus is microscopic and you can have very little amounts early, and then it MULTIPLES.
b. For this reason, you might need to re-test when symptomatic.
My COVID testing course:
1. Day #1 mild symptoms began the morning, I did a rapid test a few hours later, negative. Scheduled PCR, earliest available was next day
2. Day #1 more symptoms began that night, retested, still negative.
3. Day #2 PCR done in the morning. Repeated 3rd rapid test that afternoon, positive (faintly)
4. Day #4 PCR positive
5. **If my PCR and rapid tests came back negative, I probably would've repeated the PCR once more and maybe the rapid 1-2x further as I was symptomatic**
My advice is the following:
1. It is good to have options. We are fortunately enough to have rapid tests and PCR tests fairly readily available. Make good use of it if you're symptomatic. You MAY need to repeat tests. (Also, there are increased number of "fake" or unreliable rapid test kits - make sure to check with medical providers, the CDC, or your state's health dept. Binax is reliable.)
2. The govt gives 4 free kits, everyone should get it. If you don't need it, then good. Your neighbor, friend, or family may need it one day.
3. Insurance also reimburses for the kits - check with your insurance. I have BCBS and they will reimburse $12 per kit x 8 kit monthly (I think)
4. Be kind to others. We're all sitting in boats floating in the ocean amidst a storm that none of us wanted to be a part of.
2 tests or almost 3 rotisserie chickens, I know which choice I'm making.
Well, as of about an hour ago I can tell you these things work to tell you that you have Covid.
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This isn't a real 2 count. You are supposed to take the 2 tests successively to get the confidence accuracy of the more recent tests that are single tests. I like flowflex which is $9.99 at walgreens.
Why look at this great Coupon for Morton's steakhouse with the soup kitchen gives out free meals daily?
My insurance is making it directly clear that they aren't getting reimbursed for the covid test by the govt and that it will cost them money to reimburse us. Which they claim will make rates go up. So basically make the reimbursement process as slow and difficult as possible. Who would think getting a medical test would be this difficult to get from your medical insurance?
this is more like, morton's is giving out free steaks, but you can also buy this steak for $14 instead of the normal price... it's the exact same test kit.
They are 80% accurate if you have symptoms and 70% accurate if you don't have any symptoms.
I won't use the BinaxNOW tests anymore after receiving a false positive (a very faint line) and confirmed I was negative with a PCR test the same day. I also did an iHealth home test and got a negative result. Just my experience.
This isn't a real 2 count. You are supposed to take the 2 tests successively to get the confidence accuracy of the more recent tests that are single tests. I like flowflex which is $9.99 at walgreens.
Yep, they say if you test right when showing symptoms, you might get a negative reading because your viral load isn't high enough and you are supposed to test again in 3 days. I did this and sure enough went from negative to positive. And there was no doubt about the positive as the two lines popped up immediately.
I've got Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina. Followed their instructions to the letter, sending the completed reimbursement form, UPC codes from the tests, and original purchase receipt. Was promptly denied, with my EOB saying "Services not consistent with diagnosis"....well yeah, the tests were so I could GET a diagnosis. They also filed the service type as "Outpatient Lab/Path", which seems wrong, too. They are supposedly investigating my claim now, but color me suspicious.
I ordered mine the day they became available back in January and they didn't arrive until yesterday. You can track your order online. They should send email updates.
Where can you track your order online? That's news to me. My USPS account says I haven't even placed any orders, but I have.
very unlucky to get all iHealth from 2 address? anyone get a US supplier test kit?
Not saying MIC kit is definitely bad or having issue but it's really ironic when US government is fighting CCP and complaint about unfair trade, not buy enough from the US. And our government just spent 1.3 billion on iHealth and fund may support CCP, unbelievable.
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1. PCR testing will always be better at detection than rapid tests, but approved rapid tests are also very reliable. Timing of the tests is also very important.
a. That being said, I use a 2-prong approach when I tested myself.
2. The rapid tests may not seem "reliable" because you have to have enough of a viral load in order for it to be detected.
a. Imagine sand at the beach, sand on the pier or boardwalk, sand in your car on the drive home, and how much sand is in your car months later. Big difference right? Well the virus is microscopic and you can have very little amounts early, and then it MULTIPLES.
b. For this reason, you might need to re-test when symptomatic.
My COVID testing course:
1. Day #1 mild symptoms began the morning, I did a rapid test a few hours later, negative. Scheduled PCR, earliest available was next day
2. Day #1 more symptoms began that night, retested, still negative.
3. Day #2 PCR done in the morning. Repeated 3rd rapid test that afternoon, positive (faintly)
4. Day #4 PCR positive
5. **If my PCR and rapid tests came back negative, I probably would've repeated the PCR once more and maybe the rapid 1-2x further as I was symptomatic**
My advice is the following:
1. It is good to have options. We are fortunately enough to have rapid tests and PCR tests fairly readily available. Make good use of it if you're symptomatic. You MAY need to repeat tests. (Also, there are increased number of "fake" or unreliable rapid test kits - make sure to check with medical providers, the CDC, or your state's health dept. Binax is reliable.)
2. The govt gives 4 free kits, everyone should get it. If you don't need it, then good. Your neighbor, friend, or family may need it one day.
3. Insurance also reimburses for the kits - check with your insurance. I have BCBS and they will reimburse $12 per kit x 8 kit monthly (I think)
4. Be kind to others. We're all sitting in boats floating in the ocean amidst a storm that none of us wanted to be a part of.
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My insurance is making it directly clear that they aren't getting reimbursed for the covid test by the govt and that it will cost them money to reimburse us. Which they claim will make rates go up. So basically make the reimbursement process as slow and difficult as possible. Who would think getting a medical test would be this difficult to get from your medical insurance?
Yep, they say if you test right when showing symptoms, you might get a negative reading because your viral load isn't high enough and you are supposed to test again in 3 days. I did this and sure enough went from negative to positive. And there was no doubt about the positive as the two lines popped up immediately.
It works 60% of the time, every time.
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Not saying MIC kit is definitely bad or having issue but it's really ironic when US government is fighting CCP and complaint about unfair trade, not buy enough from the US. And our government just spent 1.3 billion on iHealth and fund may support CCP, unbelievable.
https://www.covidtests.
I submitted mine the first day and I haven't get any test from the US government. Meanwhile, it was impossible to buy them few weeks ago.
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