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WhitinsvilleWX

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    Fall Banter and General Discussion

    in New England

    Posted

    On 9/26/2020 at 1:26 AM, natedizel said:

    What we need is some sort of better rapid swab test. Results in minute or something. All bars and concerts could open up and go on. You positive you cant enter. It would be like a bag check/metal detector line.

    I don't post anymore on this stuff since the MPM thread was shut down. I figured what was the point.

    But, a rapid antigen test that's specific would be what we need to end this mess.

    I started looking into the PCR test a little more back in June. I was appalled to find out positives were being called at cycle number <40 (or <37 depending on the lab). I've used real time RT-PCR (or Taqman PCR) since 1997. We always discounted mRNA levels if the Ct value popped above 34-35. Not enough mRNA to make protein at any significant level. Several studies have been done that correlate Ct value with actual viral transfection assays, which is the gold standard. Ct values above 33-34 show no infectious viral particles are present. Yet the cut off still remains absurdly high. 

    I'd love to see the Ct values that come back from these so called cluster events like on a swim team or frat house party. Chances are one kid actually had the sniffles for covid and the rest popped "positive" because they picked up some free mRNA or a few virus particles that their innate immune system took care of. You could find the same amount of mRNA in the entire household from flu A if someone in your house was positive by an antigen test for flu. They don't test for flu with PCR, and they shouldn't with this. Its too sensitive. The test itself is fine, but the interpretation needs to be adjusted to what's called positive.

    I'm still not sure why no one has come out with a good rapid test. It takes 9-12 months to make a good, specific monoclonal antibody that's suitable for a rapid test, so hopefully that's not too far off. If they keep using PCR and calling "positives" at Ct values of <40, some places will stay locked down for ever since small amounts of mRNA will hang around for months.

    • Like 2

    Summer 2020 Banter and random observations

    in New England

    Posted

    24 minutes ago, TauntonBlizzard2013 said:

    Anyone catch fred touchers meltdown on 98.5 this morning? Yikes 

     

    What was the gist of it? Was he obviously drunk or just basically melted down crying?

    He's kind of a mess anyway. But i can see how this whole Covid situation can get to anybody much less people who are a bit unstable to begin with.

    Spring 2020 New England Banter & Random Obs

    in New England

    Posted

    1 minute ago, PhineasC said:

    You guys can go to AmPol if you want to immerse yourselves in the vibe of the last few pages of the COVID thread. I haven't visited the site in a year so you won't see me there, but I'm sure they have a thread full of hot takes to peruse.

    No thanks on the Ampol.
    I’m not innocent either. We all have biases. I’m probably 180 degrees politically from a lot on here. That’s ok. What makes the world go round. 
    The whole thing has turned way too political. There’s good arguments on either side. But we have to find a way to come together on it.


    My bigger concern with the whole thing was out of area moderators showing up over night threatening to ban New Englanders from their own forum. That’s unacceptable.

    And Taunton is right, we never did find out how much a Market Basket manger makes. Burning question. 

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