Have you sign-up for weekly asymptomatic testing at APS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This info from the Cleveland Clinic says you can continue to test positive on a PCR test even once you are no longer infectious

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/21462-covid-19-and-pcr-testing
How long do you test positive after having had COVID-19?
Because the PCR test is so sensitive, it can detect very small amounts of virus material. This means that the test can continue to detect fragments of SARS-CoV-2 virus even after you’ve recovered from COVID-19 and are no longer contagious. So you may continue to test positive if you've had COVID-19 in the distant past, even though you can’t spread the SARS-CoV-2 virus to others.

It can detect post viral shedding but they can differentiate between that and an actual positive.

if that is true how come the CDC does not recommend testing nursing home residents until 90 days after a positive test: "Testing is not recommended for people who have had SARS-CoV-2 infection in the last 90 days if they remain asymptomatic, including if they have had close contact or a higher-risk exposure; this is because some people may be non-infectious but have detectable virus from their prior infection during this period (additional information is available)." https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/long-term-care.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fhcp%2Fnursing-homes-testing.html

I am not trying to be argumentative, just genuinely asking.

I asked this question and was told it was not an issue, that the testers can differentiate between post viral shedding and actual infection. If this is the impediment to signing up - and you're not just looking for an excuse - why don't you ask the question yourself of the testing company?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We opted in. Even my elementary age kid knows it is the right thing to do. Come on people.

I just opted in. APS answered my questions, and there are a good number from my 2nd graders class doing it.

I still think they should have made it opt-out instead of opt-in. Part of why I didn't want to do it was the disruption to learning (leaving class, being the only one, possible false positives) but I think the negatives don't outweigh the positive (stopping possible covid spread).

Have they answered how the algorithm works? That really is my only remaining question.

Yes. Tommy comes in to test. He gives one sample. Some of the sample gets set aside. The rest is run in two different pools. If both pools come back positive, the testers look to see who was in both of the positive pools - it's Tommy! So no one else has to quarantine except for Tommy. Then to be even more sure, they go back to the set-aside from Tommy's sample and retest it individually, which is very quick. I think they said it can be as fast as 12 hours, and that in some cases Tommy wouldn't even be notified until they had done the confirmatory test, it's that fast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is about everybody, not just our individual families. It's about the kid who is asymptomatic but got it from his asymptomatic brother and who spreads it to a classmate who takes it home to her mom who is immunocompromised because she is undergoing chemo for cancer, or to her granddad who was vaccinated but has a severe breakthrough infection that lands him in the hospital. Kids are largely asymptomatic and unlikely to get seriously sick thank god, but others are not so lucky. Over 650,000 deaths is a horrible reality, it is not fear mongering to ask everyone to take one small free step to try to prevent the spread.

COVID will spread forever. Immunocompromised people didn't start existing in March 2020 and they will exist forever.

All of these arguments are for us to mask and surveillance test kids forever, since COVID will be here forever. Fortunately, APS families voted by opting out of this testing nonsense in overwhelming numbers.

I understand Smart Restart may be for Zero COVID, considering their Tweet this week praised New Zealand's military style lockdowns over 1 case. That's completely absurd and this type of testing nonsense in a highly vaccinated county seems to have a Zero COVID purpose to it (which almost every epidemiologist says is not reasonable or possible).

And now we get to the point in the discussion where immunocompromised people's lives don't matter. "Better to kill someone's mom than to wear a piece of cloth and get my nose swabbed once a week! Because my rights!"

I feel for your kids with a role model like you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s definitely ignore public health recommendations and not test kids because some guy on the internet has a kid who had a mild case of covid so the rest of us should just let our unvaccinated kids have a modern day version of a chickenpox party and get it over with🤷‍♀️ Sounds smart.

A non-existent, asymptomatic case of COVID is most likely the plurality of COVID cases in children. Many cases are mild. Very, very few result in hospitalization "for" COVID (not just "with" COVID), especially for a healthy child. As shown by England's public health department, an unvaccinated child has less risk with COVID than any vaccinated adult age group. https://www.newsweek.com/vaccine-children-covid-england-deaths-1627885

We don't do this type of testing for the flu, so we shouldn't do it now. Before you know it, they'll want to start doing it for the flu.

But we all know the arguments for and against. And we put those arguments to a vote and Arlington parents have voted overwhelmingly --> 80%+ did not sign up for it.

This sounds like APE's new thing. First they go off on enrollment numbers, now they will attack testing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fight about it on DCUM all you like, the fact remains that public health experts endorse the use of frequent rapid testing in schools, and APS is simply following that pretty uncomplicated and uncontroversial guidance. It would be more effective if APS would make it an opt-out rather than an opt-in program, but it’s still better than no testing at all.

No they don’t. They endorse the use of symptomatic testing. There is no ‘public health guidance’ to do asymptomatic surveillance testing like aps is doing.

Yes, yes there is. Did Fox News not mention this?

You seem hopelessly unaware.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fight about it on DCUM all you like, the fact remains that public health experts endorse the use of frequent rapid testing in schools, and APS is simply following that pretty uncomplicated and uncontroversial guidance. It would be more effective if APS would make it an opt-out rather than an opt-in program, but it’s still better than no testing at all.

No they don’t. They endorse the use of symptomatic testing. There is no ‘public health guidance’ to do asymptomatic surveillance testing like aps is doing.

Liar. The CDC recommends screening testing in schools in areas of substantial transmission.

[Anonymous]

Actually CDC recommends screening testing even for schools in areas of moderate (yellow) transmission.

Table 4:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/operation-strategy.html#anchor_1616080181070

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This info from the Cleveland Clinic says you can continue to test positive on a PCR test even once you are no longer infectious

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/21462-covid-19-and-pcr-testing
How long do you test positive after having had COVID-19?
Because the PCR test is so sensitive, it can detect very small amounts of virus material. This means that the test can continue to detect fragments of SARS-CoV-2 virus even after you’ve recovered from COVID-19 and are no longer contagious. So you may continue to test positive if you've had COVID-19 in the distant past, even though you can’t spread the SARS-CoV-2 virus to others.

It can detect post viral shedding but they can differentiate between that and an actual positive.

if that is true how come the CDC does not recommend testing nursing home residents until 90 days after a positive test: "Testing is not recommended for people who have had SARS-CoV-2 infection in the last 90 days if they remain asymptomatic, including if they have had close contact or a higher-risk exposure; this is because some people may be non-infectious but have detectable virus from their prior infection during this period (additional information is available)." https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/long-term-care.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fhcp%2Fnursing-homes-testing.html

I am not trying to be argumentative, just genuinely asking.

I asked this question and was told it was not an issue, that the testers can differentiate between post viral shedding and actual infection. If this is the impediment to signing up - and you're not just looking for an excuse - why don't you ask the question yourself of the testing company?

Either they misunderstood the ? You misunderstood the answer, or they gave you misinformation. No pcr test can distinguish between post viral shedding and infectious disease. https://assets.speakcdn.com/assets/2606/pcr_test_patientflyer.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually CDC recommends screening testing even for schools in areas of moderate (yellow) transmission.

Table 4:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/operation-strategy.html#anchor_1616080181070

No they don’t. They don’t condemn it but the link literally does not contain such a recommendation. It uses wishy washy language about how some schools may elect to use screening testing and then it gives considerations if you are going down that path.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually CDC recommends screening testing even for schools in areas of moderate (yellow) transmission.

Table 4:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/operation-strategy.html#anchor_1616080181070

No they don’t. They don’t condemn it but the link literally does not contain such a recommendation. It uses wishy washy language about how some schools may elect to use screening testing and then it gives considerations if you are going down that path.

Reading comprehension issues?

“Table 4. Testing Recommendations by Level of Community Transmission

Testing Recommendations by Level of Community Transmission

Moderate Transmission
Yellow

Screening testing for students: expanded screening testing of students offered at least once per week”

[Anonymous]

Moderate (yellow), substantial (orange), and high (red) community transmission:

Students, teachers, and staff participate in regular screening testing to reduce the risk of transmission within the school.

Teachers and staff participate in routine screening testing at least once per week. In areas with substantial and high community transmission, twice a week screening testing might be preferable to quickly detect cases among teachers and staff.

Students in elementary, middle, and high schools participate in routine screening testing at least once per week. If a confirmed positive case is found, any close contacts are quarantined and tested.

Schools might consider testing a random sample of at least 10% of students. For example, a school might randomly select 20% of the students each week for testing out of the entire population of students attending in-person instruction.

Alternatively, a school might select one cohort for each grade level each week for testing. Different strategies for random selection can be used based on most adequate fit for a school screening testing strategy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This info from the Cleveland Clinic says you can continue to test positive on a PCR test even once you are no longer infectious

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/21462-covid-19-and-pcr-testing
How long do you test positive after having had COVID-19?
Because the PCR test is so sensitive, it can detect very small amounts of virus material. This means that the test can continue to detect fragments of SARS-CoV-2 virus even after you’ve recovered from COVID-19 and are no longer contagious. So you may continue to test positive if you've had COVID-19 in the distant past, even though you can’t spread the SARS-CoV-2 virus to others.

It can detect post viral shedding but they can differentiate between that and an actual positive.

if that is true how come the CDC does not recommend testing nursing home residents until 90 days after a positive test: "Testing is not recommended for people who have had SARS-CoV-2 infection in the last 90 days if they remain asymptomatic, including if they have had close contact or a higher-risk exposure; this is because some people may be non-infectious but have detectable virus from their prior infection during this period (additional information is available)." https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/long-term-care.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fhcp%2Fnursing-homes-testing.html

I am not trying to be argumentative, just genuinely asking.

I asked this question and was told it was not an issue, that the testers can differentiate between post viral shedding and actual infection. If this is the impediment to signing up - and you're not just looking for an excuse - why don't you ask the question yourself of the testing company?

Either they misunderstood the ? You misunderstood the answer, or they gave you misinformation. No pcr test can distinguish between post viral shedding and infectious disease. https://assets.speakcdn.com/assets/2606/pcr_test_patientflyer.pdf

hmm, who to trust? The people in charge of testing or a random internet dude/dudette who says they are wrong. Sounds like you have an agenda and are looking for an excuse not to sign up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This info from the Cleveland Clinic says you can continue to test positive on a PCR test even once you are no longer infectious

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/21462-covid-19-and-pcr-testing
How long do you test positive after having had COVID-19?
Because the PCR test is so sensitive, it can detect very small amounts of virus material. This means that the test can continue to detect fragments of SARS-CoV-2 virus even after you’ve recovered from COVID-19 and are no longer contagious. So you may continue to test positive if you've had COVID-19 in the distant past, even though you can’t spread the SARS-CoV-2 virus to others.

It can detect post viral shedding but they can differentiate between that and an actual positive.

if that is true how come the CDC does not recommend testing nursing home residents until 90 days after a positive test: "Testing is not recommended for people who have had SARS-CoV-2 infection in the last 90 days if they remain asymptomatic, including if they have had close contact or a higher-risk exposure; this is because some people may be non-infectious but have detectable virus from their prior infection during this period (additional information is available)." https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/long-term-care.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fhcp%2Fnursing-homes-testing.html

I am not trying to be argumentative, just genuinely asking.

I asked this question and was told it was not an issue, that the testers can differentiate between post viral shedding and actual infection. If this is the impediment to signing up - and you're not just looking for an excuse - why don't you ask the question yourself of the testing company?

Either they misunderstood the ? You misunderstood the answer, or they gave you misinformation. No pcr test can distinguish between post viral shedding and infectious disease. https://assets.speakcdn.com/assets/2606/pcr_test_patientflyer.pdf

hmm, who to trust? The people in charge of testing or a random internet dude/dudette who says they are wrong. Sounds like you have an agenda and are looking for an excuse not to sign up.

Unless I'm missing something, I'm trusting the CDC which says you can get false positives for 90 days after an infection. My kids aren't eating in restaurants, seeing friends inside or doing anything else risky. I would sign them up for daily instant tests it that was an option, but risk of a PCR being positive when my kids aren't infectious doesn't seem worth the risk

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This info from the Cleveland Clinic says you can continue to test positive on a PCR test even once you are no longer infectious

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/21462-covid-19-and-pcr-testing
How long do you test positive after having had COVID-19?
Because the PCR test is so sensitive, it can detect very small amounts of virus material. This means that the test can continue to detect fragments of SARS-CoV-2 virus even after you’ve recovered from COVID-19 and are no longer contagious. So you may continue to test positive if you've had COVID-19 in the distant past, even though you can’t spread the SARS-CoV-2 virus to others.

It can detect post viral shedding but they can differentiate between that and an actual positive.

if that is true how come the CDC does not recommend testing nursing home residents until 90 days after a positive test: "Testing is not recommended for people who have had SARS-CoV-2 infection in the last 90 days if they remain asymptomatic, including if they have had close contact or a higher-risk exposure; this is because some people may be non-infectious but have detectable virus from their prior infection during this period (additional information is available)." https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/long-term-care.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fhcp%2Fnursing-homes-testing.html

I am not trying to be argumentative, just genuinely asking.

I asked this question and was told it was not an issue, that the testers can differentiate between post viral shedding and actual infection. If this is the impediment to signing up - and you're not just looking for an excuse - why don't you ask the question yourself of the testing company?

Either they misunderstood the ? You misunderstood the answer, or they gave you misinformation. No pcr test can distinguish between post viral shedding and infectious disease. https://assets.speakcdn.com/assets/2606/pcr_test_patientflyer.pdf

hmm, who to trust? The people in charge of testing or a random internet dude/dudette who says they are wrong. Sounds like you have an agenda and are looking for an excuse not to sign up.

Unless I'm missing something, I'm trusting the CDC which says you can get false positives for 90 days after an infection. My kids aren't eating in restaurants, seeing friends inside or doing anything else risky. I would sign them up for daily instant tests it that was an option, but risk of a PCR being positive when my kids aren't infectious doesn't seem worth the risk

1. That’s not a “false positive”. Stop spreading misinformation.

2. If you know your kid had a recent infection then you can skip testing. I think they’d be excluded from testing if you provide that info.

[Anonymous]

Is this the same lady whose kid got covid and it was the best thing that could have happened to her?