Jon Deeks FMedSci Profile picture
Biostatistician trying to work out the best ways of evaluating medical tests. Views expressed are my own and do not necessarily reflect my employer or funders.

Apr 9, 2021, 11 tweets

Take note - @dhscgov rapid tests are being sent out (certainly in schools) with two different (and conflicting) information sheets, one in the box and one given out separately.

(the crumpled one with the picture is in the box, the glossy one is handed out separately).

1/10

The clue to which one is most up to date is on the back page (the one in the box is the out of date version).

2/10

The important difference in on page 2, which has far more info in the box (1st) version than the version given out about who should use the test and what they should do.

3/10

The box version states "You can use this self-test kit if you have symptoms or if your are asymptomatic (you do not have symptoms)"

There is no equivalent statement in the new guidance. (it states on p3 that you should refer to NHS guidance online if you have symptoms).

4/10

The "what your results mean" section has moved to page 16 in the new booklet

5/10

The original version (in the box) gives no clear directions on what the results mean and what you should do. There is no instruction to isolate with a positive result or to maintain social distancing with a negative result.

It really did need changing.
6/10

The new version is much clearer - "should" has been changed to "must" for both positive (isolate) and negative (continue social distancing etc).

7/10

But giving everybody two different leaflets is clearly going to cause massive confusion. And there seems little doubt that "the one on the box" is the one people will be able to find most easily.

8/10

@MHRAgovuk is this acceptable to distribute a test providing a outdated instructions for use document? We would never allow this for a drug.

9/10

For added confusion the boxes also contain this note from Xiamen saying that they are for use in "individuals who are suspected of COVID-19 by their healthcare provider".

10/10

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