I've been hearing a lot about the new COVID home test kits and I wanted to do a bit of research regarding their effectiveness. I know for a fact that the original, go to the Dr. PCR test, generally were processed with a CT # of 35-40. The manufacturers stated that the CT # should be set to no more than 40 to detect a CV-19 virus. If you don't know what any of this means, look here. But, just know that the Ct # was way too high and was picking up all sorts of things, including dead CV-19 particles and producing, especially for those with NO SYMPTOMS, false positive test results. Even the CDC claims that you'd be hard pressed to find any live virus at a CT # of 33 or over. And yet, most PCR tests are using a CT# of 35 and above, all the way up to 40!
I thought this video was an absolute great resource for understanding how the PCR test works and how wrong they can be. I agreed with about 99% of what this guy said. It was what he said at the end that I completely disagreed with, rapid testing, which is exactly what the new home tests are...but just take a fun minutes and watch this excellent presentation before I go into the facts regarding these new, at home tests.
So real quick, Coronaviruses are vast and varied and up to 30% of all upper respiratory infections are coronaviruses and so is the common cold. In 2003 a new coronavirus was discovered and it was called, SARS CoV (severe acute respiratory syndrome). This virus was actually out infecting people, globally from late 2002-mid 2003. To put it into perspective, over 8000 people contracted this respiratory virus and 774 people were reported to have died, and thankfully, people who committed suicide, died in car accidents or were already in hospice, dying, were NOT counted in this data. The death count would have been much higher had this been they methodology used. This virus had devastating affects mostly for the very young and the very old.
Then SARS CoV-2 which is basically COVID-19, it's that virus that causes the RONA. It's kinda like this: "People often know the name of a disease, such as measles, but not the name of the virus that causes it (rubeola)." WHO website. This is why COVID-19 and SARS CoV-2 are used interchangeably.
Now that we know all about the Coronaviruses (because this is important to what I am going to share with you) and a few of its most popular names, let's NOW take a look at the newest CV-19 at home test kits.
HERE is the FDA fact sheet for the BinaxNOW home test kit so that you can read along as we go over a few things about this test.
On page 1: "This product has been authorized only for the detection of proteins from SARS-CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens."
But on page 6 this is stated: "The BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card2Home Test does not differentiate between SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2" Now remember our Coronavirus lesson above and add this, "Just as the general public has become familiar with this terminology, officials have also begun using SARS-CoV-2 in connection with the recent outbreak. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, shortened to SARS-CoV-2, is actually the virus that causes COVID-19 (the disease). As the name indicates, this virus is genetically related to the SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) that caused an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2002-2003, however it is not the same virus."
SARS-CoV can be anything from a bad cold to a severe respiratory illness.
And it goes on to make this claim: "Positive results do not rule out bacterial infection or co-infection with other viruses."
Alrighty then, this test has been made to detect CV-19, but it will also detect the original SARS, bacterial infections and other various viruses. So what this FDA fact sheet regarding this at home test kit is really saying, WITHOUT saying it, is that there is a high probability that this test will pick up whatever infection you may have--if you are sick with symptoms--and give you a FALSE POSITIVE! There is NO innocent until proven guilty, if you test+ you are simply removed from the game...you are Kaput! Into isolation you go!
And if you recall the video, if this home test is super sensitive, it will pick up an old infection that you may have had that is NO LONGER infectious! What does BinaxNOW claim? "Antigen tests are very specific for the virus, but are not as sensitive as molecular tests. This means that a positive result is highly accurate..." ~page 4 But page 6 (above) contradicts this claim. Also, if we review the video, the higher the allowed CT# for a PCR test the higher the chance of a FALSE Positive! This fact has concerned some intellectually honest medical professionals since the PCR test came out to "detect" the CV-19 virus. A non-symptomatic person who tests positive and then months later becomes sick and tests positive again, was most certainly the victim of an incorrect first PCR test rather than a CV-19 reinfection after having natural immunities.
But what is most concerning with this at home test, as well with the PCR test, is that if you get a POSITIVE, that's it, you're grounded, even if you feel fine, aren't sick and have NO symptoms! If you test Neg. however, it's this, "Negative results should be treated as presumptive and confirmation with a molecular assay, if necessary, for patient management, may be performed. Negative results do not rule out SARS-CoV-2 infection..." We are told to NOT trust a negative test, but it you are not sick, not symptomatic, but need to get on a plane in 4 hours and you test positive, GROUNDED!
SERIAL TESTING=$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ and lots of it for the pharmaceutical companies and the manufacturer of this test. Serial testing over and over until you finally get a positive test is their goal. "COVID-19 Serial testing is when one person tests themselves multiple times for COVID-19 on a routine basis, such as everyday or every other day. By testing more frequently, you may detect COVID-19 more quickly and reduce spread of infection."
Last but not least, "A positive test result means it is very likely you have COVID-19 ...It is also likely that you may be placed in isolation to avoid spreading the virus to others." The red color is my emphasis because I really wanted you to see how this was worded! Unless you are symptomatic, that statement is 100% FALSE!
