Covid 19 test coming up

[matt819]

I have been a big advocate of Covid-19 testing on a large scale. The more information, the better was my argument.

Testing is now available in my area, and I signed up. When I told my wife, she said why? After all, it's only going to tell you that you don't have the virus at that moment.

Good point, I guess. That might very well be true, but it might also tell me that I have the virus, even though I'm asymptomatic. This would not be good news, but it would be valuable information.

My wife, along with a few people I know and some others locally that I've heard about, believes that she had the virus in early
February before it became front page news. Her interest is in antibody testing, and no one in our area is doing that. Plus I haven't confirmed whether that would be covered by Medicare and supplemental. (The testing is at no charge to me.)

Is there a consensus here on the value of testing in broad terms and whether it makes sense at the individual level - for the individual, not for its contribution to epidemiological research.

[California_Republic]

1. I'm hoping they final cone available at Walgreens and CVS

[bamagal62]

2. I think any testing is helpful.

I did the antibody testing. And, they tested for both antibodies and it was a proper blood draw. I was ill in March. Our whole family (4 of us) came back negative. Which is a bummer as I was hoping what I had was it. Now, I get to continue to worry.

[Lochloosa]

3. Testing alone only gives a snapshot of the prevalence of the virus.

Without contact tracing, it's just numbers and your piece of mind.

[safeinOhio]

4. I had 3 test a little over a week ago

while I was in the hospital.
Did both sides of my nose for sinus and one for throat.

The first two can take 48 hrs for results and the throat one was 12 hours.

Please don't think the throat one will be less uncomfortable, it wasn't. They get to the back or your throat thru your nose and have to spin it around for 5 seconds.

Neither are painful, just enough discomfort to make your eyes water.

Good luck

[WestLosAngelesGal]

5. I'm waiting for the self-test to come to CVS as promised...

Also, I saw an online ad asking for plasma donations in exchange for a free covid antibody test. I don't remember the company name.