Antibody tests

[Old Greg]

To begin with they are the only ones being tested currently anyway.

Taking a cheek swap is trivial, there are plenty of examples like DNA test kits etc. There might be some higher degree of complexity in securing a suspected contagious Covid19 sample, but nothing that can't be adapted for the average Joe/Jane to use.

There would eventually be a bottleneck at the Labs that do the actual tests, but from what i gather the current bottleneck is actually taking the swabs.

IIRC they are nose and throat swab (or they were when we were considering self-administered home testing a month ago) and the sampling error rate would be high. Maybe new test are available now.

[AtW]

Finally good news -proper company will be doing the job

“ The pharmaceutical giant Roche has devised a new coronavirus antibody test, which it is aiming to launch in the UK next month.

Antibody testing, which has already been utilised in Germany, South Korea and Finland, is seen as a way for countries to exit lockdown by showing who has already had Covid-19 and could therefore have a degree of immunity.

Roche, which has its headquarters in Switzerland, says it will be able to produce its tests in the order of the high tens of millions by June and will then scale up production “as fast as possible”.”

Roche to commence rollout of coronavirus antibody test in UK | World news | The Guardian

[AtW]

Univ. of Washington ramps up ‘fantastic’ test for COVID-19 antibodies – GeekWire

Finally not a tulip test, should be ramping up big time in the US

[darmstadt]

Univ. of Washington ramps up ‘fantastic’ test for COVID-19 antibodies – GeekWire

Finally not a tulip test, should be ramping up big time in the US

Is that 'fantastic' as in a Trump 'fantastic'?

[cannon999]

Coronavirus: 'Possible to be infected with Covid-19 more than once' - BBC News

[AtW]

Coronavirus: 'Possible to be infected with Covid-19 more than once' - BBC News

Nobody knows how long immunity lasts - it’s too soon

[NotAllThere]

Finally good news -proper company will be doing the job

“The pharmaceutical giant Roche has devised a new coronavirus antibody test, which it is aiming to launch in the UK next month."

Apropos nothing, Roche have asked anyone working on this project not to mention it on social media, including online forums.

Btw - first tested in Switzerland, so if it gets to the UK, it might actually be useful.

[Hobosapien]

So Roche and all the others working on test and vaccines are being selfish in their approach, putting future profit by trying to be first to market ahead of a shared worldwide effort that puts the health of the people before the financial gain.

Sounds about right for 'big pharma'.

[AtW]

“ Health officials are scrambling to get a refund on at least some of that sum, but the New York Times reported that the order for two million antibody tests was offered on a "take it or leave it deal" before the kits were found not to work.”

No certainty that UK will have coronavirus vaccine in 18 months, chief scientific adviser warns

LOL - mugs, anybody who refuses contractual refund on the basis that product not fit for purposes should be told to go you know where

[Hobosapien]

“ Health officials are scrambling to get a refund on at least some of that sum, but the New York Times reported that the order for two million antibody tests was offered on a "take it or leave it deal" before the kits were found not to work.”

No certainty that UK will have coronavirus vaccine in 18 months, chief scientific adviser warns

LOL - mugs, anybody who refuses contractual refund on the basis that product not fit for purposes should be told to go you know where

Nigerian type scammers will be fleecing these muppets any way they can. They're so desperate to recover their position from the initial and ongoing inept handling of the situation they're throwing money anywhere there is hope. Many companies will be making lots of money from this where morally they should be doing it at cost. We'll see what blowback happens after, if any. Those exploiting the situation should be named and shamed.

See the Turkey PPE bollox. That one shipment will only last days anyway, and it's days late! Government and inpet media focusing on that diverting attention from the bigger issue of how to ensure a consistent supply of billions of items a month just to cover the professionals, and how can the public be asked to wear such kit (homemade stuff is likely worse than nothing) when that time comes if there is inadequate supply. I suppose that's one way of suppressing public spreading if only allowed out in suitable grade kit and it's not available.

Before spunking millions on antibody tests they need to be sure the virus creates enough antibodies in enough people for enough length of time for the tests to be worth a damn anyway. I expect if a test is found to work then the international demand means the UK will be in the same precarious position as with PPE. It all needs UK production for UK use.