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global1

(25,167 posts)
Wed Apr 22, 2020, 07:12 PM Apr 2020

A Company Will Be Releasing A Home Covid-19 Testing Kit-Test & Mail In For Results - Is This Safe?..

I don't know if this was addressed here on DU - but I'll ask the question.

One does the swabbing in home. Pop the swab in the mail. In a couple of days you receive the results.

My question is: Could the U.S. Mail System be contaminated by these tests going through the mail?

What about the mail handlers - can they contract the virus?

Think about it - some of the tests will be positive - meaning that whomever sent it in has the virus and could have also contaminated the mailing envelope.

Also - any one of these envelopes can get damaged in transit or through the sorting machines. What about the other mail that might come in contact with these mail-in tests? Can it become contaminated?

Has anyone addressed this question. Is this safe?

7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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A Company Will Be Releasing A Home Covid-19 Testing Kit-Test & Mail In For Results - Is This Safe?.. (Original Post) global1 Apr 2020 OP
People send their poop through the mail. boston bean Apr 2020 #1
I think the only thing to be concerned with would be excessive temperatures. Ilsa Apr 2020 #2
No, because I think a lot of people cheat with mail-in testing. Grown2Hate Apr 2020 #3
Won't do us a lot of good if we don't have a post office. Initech Apr 2020 #4
It's Likely... ProfessorGAC Apr 2020 #5
Sounds simple enough, but self-sampling may be less reliable. Raven123 Apr 2020 #6
Too much potential for fraud and swabbing accidents rocktivity Apr 2020 #7

Ilsa

(61,675 posts)
2. I think the only thing to be concerned with would be excessive temperatures.
Wed Apr 22, 2020, 07:28 PM
Apr 2020

In the past, it was possible to get false positives or false negatives on home pregnancy tests because reactive ingredients degraded in high summer heat. I don't know if changing temperatures would affect reading the virus (or antibodies and titer).

It remains to be seen if these tests are any good. Some companies make garbage for a quick buck.

Grown2Hate

(2,005 posts)
3. No, because I think a lot of people cheat with mail-in testing.
Wed Apr 22, 2020, 07:35 PM
Apr 2020

I think people should get test with ID. I think testing ID is very important, and the reason they don’t want testing ID is because they intend to cheat.

It shouldn’t be mail-in testing. It should be you go to a booth and you proudly display yourself. You don’t send it in the mail where people can pick up — all sorts of bad things can happen … by the time it gets in and is tabulated.

GOD, I hope it's not needed, but, just in case...

Just using tRump quotes on mail-in voting.

ProfessorGAC

(64,421 posts)
5. It's Likely...
Wed Apr 22, 2020, 07:44 PM
Apr 2020

...that the swab has a fitting lower on the stick that goes into a sealed tube. That would be logical to avoid a contamination of the sample itself.
Also, viruses cannot migrate independent of host fluid or fluid dynamics.
It's not going to get from inside an envelope to the outside.
Last, it's been demonstrated that normal stationery paper & cardboard are surfaces that limits viral viability the most. Less than 24 hours and the virus is no longer viable on cardboard & Kraft paper (paper bags). Moderately finished paper (like an envelope) only a little longer.
It's not like true hard surfaces where it lasts for days & days. (14 on one of the tested cruise ships)
Besides, it's probably how professionally done tests are sent to the analytical labs now.

rocktivity

(44,555 posts)
7. Too much potential for fraud and swabbing accidents
Wed Apr 22, 2020, 07:45 PM
Apr 2020

Last edited Mon Apr 27, 2020, 01:40 AM - Edit history (7)

and being based on a nose swab, it fits my definition of being invasive.

There's another test that works with saliva samples -- much faster results and is definitely less invasive. It's being rolled out in New Jersey
https://yourhhrsnews.com/mass-coronavirus-testing-debuts-in-edison-the-rest-of-the-us-next/


rocktivity

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