Thread by @WesElyMD

1/🧵🎥 COVID & Thanksgiving Safety: 🍁

Use of Rapid Antigen Testing❓

I’m getting lots of QUESTIONS about eating Tgiving turkey w people who are not #Vaxxed. A very safe thing to do is have people cleared by a rapid Ag test.

Watch 2 min👇: @michaelmina_lab & I’ll unpack…

2/ It’s NOT a brain biopsy like PCR. More like picking your nose. 😂

Legit Rapid Ag tests you get commercially at a drugstore or online will tell you: AM I INFECTIOUS?

Am I shedding COVID virions in a quantity that places others at risk.

I’m NOT endorsing any one test here.

3/ PCR is the most sensitive way to detect COVID globally. @US_FDA & @CDCgov say so and that’s technically accurate. But (1) PCR takes too long & is not practical for YOUR purposes (outdated by the time you’re w mom). (2) PCR will stay positive way longer than you are infectious!

4/ The Rapid Ag tests are VERY specific. Almost NO false positives. They won’t read positive unless you are for sure shedding virus in enough quantity to infect someone eating pumpkin pie across from you at the Thanksgiving table. 🦃

5/ There can be false negatives, but only if you have much lower viral load. That’s why AG testing is good #PublicHealth test.

Meaning, #RapidAg testing is how we need to approach our pandemic on a large scale level. This was in my 1st year Master’s degree classes. MPH 101.

6/ Do you want to (1) be in control of your own safety (2) conveniently, and (3) privately?

Rapid Antigen testing is the way.

I think people will act responsibly and quarantine when they test positive.

And if at all worried, ALSO #MASK up.

7/fin
“Hi Mom, want a hug?!”
Look at the TOP 3 ROWS of this table (TY @michaelmina_lab). If you are risky infectious, Rapid Ag tests “detect you” 94%-100% of the time! BAM. In just 10 minutes you can feel safe to gain an entire day w friends & family! Tomorrow? Just test again!

👇Look at this crazy difference between the United States and the United Kingdom. People have replied to this thread saying they can’t even find a rapid test in US within 100 miles while the UK provides multiple types of tests for free. Ugh!

https://twitter.com/khnews/status/1462853640201330699