Ben Keefe

@LisaBarrettID @travisfortnum Can you explain exactly what the “misinformation” is here?

Epidemiologists are very smart people….but you might want to get your information on testing from a testing expert NOT an epidemiologist. The idea that rapid tests aren’t a useful community tool at this stage of the pandemic is misinformation @travisfortnum

@michaelmina_lab I see that this paper focuses on 427 symptomatic patients. Is there evidence for adequate sensitivity in the asymptomatic population? In a recent Cochrane review they reported <60% for that group (on average). It is used exclusively for asymptomatic individuals where I live.

Surprise! Rapid tests detect infectious virus. They are highly specific and sensitive for infectious virus. They are not low sensitivity The “gold standard” PCR is simply the wrong standard for a public health test bc PCR is not specific for infectious virus Great data👇

@btaplatt @JRMarlow And (based on the test sensitivity) they also told >200 people who had COVID they were negative and texted them “safe socializing folks!!” Did that lead to more spread than it stopped? I don’t know, do you? What other sources (epidemiologist?) did you consult for this article?

@ChrisIorfidaCBC @btaplatt Says who? Quach is absolutely correct - read any peer reviewed literature on the topic. Rapid tests are the most accurate in the symptomatic population, and are often found to be ineffective in the asymptomatic. Our national health advisers have certainly read these facts.

@btaplatt We need to tell at least one of our national health advisers that. "If you use them to test children and staff who have symptoms, then it's actually pretty good at picking it up," [Quach] said. That's. not. their. purpose. They are for the asymptomatic. cbc.ca/news/canada/mo…

@RoroMacSays @ramer_sarah @btaplatt The change was made May 4th (to the best of my knowledge) the entire province had been locked down for a full week and had over 1,000 active cases. But that’s beside the point - the messaging is still not perfect (a negative test is not necessarily “valid for the day”)

@bkeefe15 @ramer_sarah @btaplatt The change was made to the messaging, because changes were made to the restrictions. "safe socializing folks!" was when NS was saying "safe socializing folks!" at press conferences, a time where socializing was apparently NOT safe. Tough to ding the pop up tests for that.

@ramer_sarah @btaplatt I agree with you - incredibly irresponsible. But it happens. The way you (as a doctor) use rapid testing is very much appropriate, but you must realize that you are not an average rapid testing customer. Not everyone perceives/uses the test this way - that’s the problem

@bkeefe15 @btaplatt Well that’s just irresponsible. It’s not the fault of the testing system. People like me get tested often because I have to see many people every day as part of my work and I don’t want to put them at risk. It’s not to make me feel better about socializing. I don’t socialize.

@ramer_sarah @btaplatt I am also a person of NS who goes for rapid tests in the age group that is probably doing the most spreading - 20-30. I have seen people in my peer group change their behaviour/bend rules based on a negative rapid test. I’m not saying everyone does, but some have.

@ramer_sarah @btaplatt It’s great that you know that, and the change that they recently made to the messaging is better (used to end with: “safe socializing folks!!”) but not everyone knows this. It says you’re negative for today, that’s just not true for everyone.

@btaplatt I’m not trying to argue that this testing program is necessarily detrimental - just that it’s not OBVIOUSLY beneficial... you highlighted the additional close contacts that were found with this program, what’s the estimate for the additional spread it may have caused?

@btaplatt The public health messaging is not good enough, many don’t understand that the test isn’t perfect and they could have COVID and test negative.

@btaplatt Ultimately this wouldn’t be an issue if people didn’t change their behaviour based on a negative test, but I live in Halifax and I have seen people who are “bending rules” based on these tests.

@btaplatt Yes, the sensitivity is higher for people with high viral load, but those who have the virus and are asymptomatic usually have a lower viral load (why they’re asymptomatic) these people still have COVID and are being told they don’t.

@btaplatt We just don’t know, and there hasn’t been convincing evidence to the contrary, hence why people all over the world aren’t using these tests to screen the asymptomatic populations.

@btaplatt The sensitivity of this type of test used in the asymptomatic population means that it has also sent about the same amount of COVID+ people home to their families with a negative result and encouraged them to socialize with others. Catching 18% may have caused 20% more cases.

@btaplatt Rapid testing can be extremely useful in specific circumstances (serial testing of health care workers for example) - but is often not useful on asymptomatic populations (primarily because of the low sensitivity: % of people who have COVID who are caught by this test)

@btaplatt This article says nothing about rapid testing being an effective tool in finding the virus on a large scale - in fact it says “rapid testing misses cases in asymptomatic people” check the peer reviewed literature, it’s not the economics that’s an issue

Due to #COVID19, we are extending the date to respond to our #GradStudentMentalWellness survey until April 15th! If you are a grad student @DalGradStudies and want to weigh in, we’d love for you to respond! Please share widely! surveys.dal.ca/opinio/s?s=536…

Today I wish to salute bald men who shave their heads. You are the bravest men I know. For you have truly looked the devil in the eyes and said, "I may be losing the war, but I am still the author of my own destiny."

@CaseyNeistat This is Winston