COVID-19 testing research study in England

[BumbleB]

Has anyone else received a letter from DHSC/Imperial College/IpsosMORI related to testing for Covid-19?

I received my letter today, asking me to sign up to the test.

[mazi]

I got mine a few days ago,went online and started filling in the form but failed the medical.

I feel their research into wider spread in the community is about to be overtaken by the new rapid tests and mass testing, which will provide the same answers.

Mike

[Gan Yam]

I took part about 6 weeks ago and OH did the test in June.

[HughC]

I don't know whether it's the same study, but my niece's husband, who is a medical researcher, reports that half those who tested positive had no symptoms, and a further 10% had none of the three we've been told to watch for: elevated temperature, persistent cough, loss of taste & smell.

So there must be a lot of people about who have no idea they're infectious.
All the more reason for wearing a facemask, keeping one's distance, and avoiding places where people congregate.

[louisa maud]

I did one about 4 weeks ago with a finger prick test, had to watch the colour change on the stick  about 10-15 mins, made me think what an agonising ime parents have when doing  pregnancy test, answered the questions as soon as I could after the 15 mins online, I was clear by the way

LM

[BumbleB]

An update - my test kit arrived on 17 November, I immediately booked my collection - 18 November - did the test, courier collected it during the allotted timescale.  And today I had my result - NEGATIVE   

[mazi]

An update - my test kit arrived on 17 November, I immediately booked my collection - 18 November - did the test, courier collected it during the allotted timescale.  And today I had my result - NEGATIVE   

I wonder now, with so much testing going on, whether an antibody test would be more useful, after all it’s possible that half the population has had it ages ago and never noticed.

We shielders might be the only ones left to catch it

Mike

[HughC]

Mike has a good point.

It so happens that on the day I received the letter inviting me for a test -- not Imperial College but the Office for National Statistics and Oxford University -- I was feeling unwell: a bit shivery in spite of an extra layer of clothes, slightly elevated body temperature, the occasional cough.  I rang the 0800 number to register and was told it could take up to three weeks before somebody comes for the swab test, by which time the result will be negative, whatever it was I caught (or that caught me, as G.B.S. put it).

I'm happy to report that that same evening I suddenly felt better and ate a hearty meal.
But I'd still like to know whether I have the antibodies in my blood.

[Crumblie]

I did the antibody test a couple of weeks ago having being invited to take part in the study and it was negative. An article I read a month or so ago said that the same study had found that people who had had Covid had varying levels of antibodies and the antibodies faded very quickly.