NSW has deflected responsibility for the massive pressures on the pathology system by focusing public attention on QLD's tourism testing
But in fact sheer case load is also a major factor affecting the testing system's capacity
Quick🧵1/6
#covid19aus #covid19nsw #CovidTesting
But in fact sheer case load is also a major factor affecting the testing system's capacity
Quick🧵1/6
#covid19aus #covid19nsw #CovidTesting
Prof Dwyer has confirmed NSW pathology labs use the 'pooling' process outlined by the Reddit thread
Pooling is supposed to help the system process large numbers of samples
Eg. Test 4 samples as a group
Negative? Move on
Positive? Go back and test each sample individually
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Pooling is supposed to help the system process large numbers of samples
Eg. Test 4 samples as a group
Negative? Move on
Positive? Go back and test each sample individually
2/6
Prof Dwyer said today:
'The process of having to go back and retest positive pools takes a lot of time'
and
'The ability to pool is limited by how common the disease is in the community'
So the pooling process is directly affected by more cases / higher positivity rate
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'The process of having to go back and retest positive pools takes a lot of time'
and
'The ability to pool is limited by how common the disease is in the community'
So the pooling process is directly affected by more cases / higher positivity rate
3/6
Yes the sheer number of tests is a huge burden
But at the end of August, NSW pathology systems absorbed testing numbers that were almost on par with what we've seen in the last two weeks
We have done 9 days > 130-150k / day (7-day avg)
In August we did 3 weeks at that rate
4/
But at the end of August, NSW pathology systems absorbed testing numbers that were almost on par with what we've seen in the last two weeks
We have done 9 days > 130-150k / day (7-day avg)
In August we did 3 weeks at that rate
4/
Comparing is a little tricky bc in August there were bulk cases added on a couple of days
But you get the general picture
The *big* difference between then and now is the positivity rate
End of August: <1%
Now: >5% (7-day avg)
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But you get the general picture
The *big* difference between then and now is the positivity rate
End of August: <1%
Now: >5% (7-day avg)
5/6
So who broke testing? Annastacia Palaszczuk is a convenient villain
But the system's very design is also a factor
Very big h/t goes to @datapossum who helped me see this in late night DMs
The possum has some data / charts on this subject in the works so keep an eye out
6/6
But the system's very design is also a factor
Very big h/t goes to @datapossum who helped me see this in late night DMs
The possum has some data / charts on this subject in the works so keep an eye out
6/6
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