Thread by @kishkitsch

Pertains to the US, but seems relevant to this thread.

Even with a negative test, as per CDC guidelines, drs can still diagnose covid-19.

Sounds about right..

https://twitter.com/AJKayWriter/status/1291843395833348097?s=20

https://twitter.com/tlowdon/status/1299736519184232449?s=20

Sharing a few tweets discussing CT (cycle threshold) values, starting here - infectiousness begins to fall off at a CT of 24.

https://twitter.com/andrewbostom/status/1300058217825927168?s=20

Screenshot from @OPHA_Ontario backing up what @kerpen is saying here 👇

https://twitter.com/kerpen/status/1300980369915813894?s=20

Finally, a deep dive explaining CT values. Hugely important to understand our current #casedemic and give context to covid deaths counted as "died with" a positive test.

https://twitter.com/gummibear737/status/1300828252869664768?s=20

https://twitter.com/KatKarma5/status/1301379742755627008?s=20

https://twitter.com/denisrancourt/status/1302320907399159808?s=20

PCR cycle threshold explanation.

The US is using 40. Ontario is using 38 (which is then an indeterminate result to be checked with a *more* sensitive assay.

https://twitter.com/jhaskinscabrera/status/1305270601179856898?s=20

https://twitter.com/kishkitsch/status/1306667492190892034?s=20

https://twitter.com/OnCall4ON/status/1307260022653677568?s=20

"The test cannot distinguish between a living virus and a short strand of RNA from a virus which broke into pieces weeks or months ago."
lockdownsceptics.org/lies-damned-li…

An EXCELLENT (long) thread documenting PCR test limitations.

Essential covid reading here.

https://twitter.com/DaFeid/status/1304502039389573121?s=20

Cases!
#Ontario specific thread about the PCR test's CT values.

https://twitter.com/AsadLonePhD/status/1309916048792195072?s=20

Test accuracy dependent on prevalence. So, why are we using it to gauge prevalence?

https://twitter.com/kishkitsch/status/1311628888859181056?s=20

https://twitter.com/randyhillier/status/1313225542099972098?s=20