VDOH caught adding number of antibody tests to Covad test numbers

[Anonymous]

Apparently VDOH has to admit that its daily publication of the number of Covad tests given in Virginia is actually a sum of the number of Covad tests PLUS the number of antibody tests. However it has not been adding the number of positive antibody tests to the number of positive Covad tests. That is insane, and completely dishonest.

1) the majority of antibody tests are not FDA approved, there is a 15% fail rate on most and there is questions of whether this test can only identify Covad-19 and not other covads. (Many threads already on this)
2) the sum artificially inflated the number of Covad tests being available and being given
3) the sum also dilutes percentage of positives making it seem less people were positive on a percentage basis than actually were.

For example, say today there are 50 Covad tests and 50 antibody tests. 25 of the Covad are positive. 25 of the antibody are positive. Virginia would be reporting the total Covad tests as 50 + 50 = 100 tests and the number of positives as 25, which is only 25%. But actually there were only 50 Covad tests, with 25 positive and that’s 50% percent. This is so shady.

https://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/watch-now-virginia-will-separate-antibody-results-from-total-testing-northern-virginia-reopening-likely-delayed/article_81fb6345-af54-52c5-8c39-665793b4950f.html

[Anonymous]

They "admitted" that several days ago. It's not ideal, no.

And it's spelled with an i not an a.

[Anonymous]

That's not shady. The positive COVID tests are for active infections. The antibody tests are for past infections and show a more complete picture b/c then we know how much of the population has been exposed.

[Anonymous]

Percentages are fractions. If you’re only adding extra numbers to the denominator then every single time the final percentage is diluted.

If the point of only adding active Covad tests to the positives number than there is no point in adding antibody tests to the total number of tests because those aren’t testing for active infections. Can’t have it both way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's not shady. The positive COVID tests are for active infections. The antibody tests are for past infections and show a more complete picture b/c then we know how much of the population has been exposed.

But the governor is making statements regarding daily testing percentage positives, which is including the antibody tests. So it is misleading. They are now separating the results to get and give people a clear picture. But the government has certain parameters it wants met before NOVA opens, and the percentage of positive cases is one of them. If the percentage of ACTIVE cases is x% that’s one thing, but we don’t know because they’re adding antibody tests into the total tests given.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Percentages are fractions. If you’re only adding extra numbers to the denominator then every single time the final percentage is diluted.

If the point of only adding active Covad tests to the positives number than there is no point in adding antibody tests to the total number of tests because those aren’t testing for active infections. Can’t have it both way.

Covad?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Percentages are fractions. If you’re only adding extra numbers to the denominator then every single time the final percentage is diluted.

If the point of only adding active Covad tests to the positives number than there is no point in adding antibody tests to the total number of tests because those aren’t testing for active infections. Can’t have it both way.

Covad?

Perhaps you’re focusing on the wrong thing PP. stay welllllzjeheneb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's not shady. The positive COVID tests are for active infections. The antibody tests are for past infections and show a more complete picture b/c then we know how much of the population has been exposed.

Of course it is—they use the daily number to show if the infection is spreading. So, if yesterday we had 100 new positives and today we have 75 new positives plus 50 antibody positives, it looks like infection has increased by 25% BUT INSTEAD IT ACTUALLY DECLINED BY 25%.

Literally the definition of shady.

[Anonymous]

"Caught"?

All they have to do is indicate they are adding those cases. There was not testing capability when we needed it.

[Anonymous]

I don't trust any state's numbers at this point like FL's.

[Anonymous]

The VDOH has been ridiculously lousy with collecting, managing, and conveying COVID-19 data from the get go.

Whoever is in charge over there needs to be fired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The VDOH has been ridiculously lousy with collecting, managing, and conveying COVID-19 data from the get go.

Whoever is in charge over there needs to be fired.

State public health agencies have been underfunded all over the country. Do has the federal public health agency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's not shady. The positive COVID tests are for active infections. The antibody tests are for past infections and show a more complete picture b/c then we know how much of the population has been exposed.

Of course it is—they use the daily number to show if the infection is spreading. So, if yesterday we had 100 new positives and today we have 75 new positives plus 50 antibody positives, it looks like infection has increased by 25% BUT INSTEAD IT ACTUALLY DECLINED BY 25%.

Literally the definition of shady.

READ

If we had 75 new positives and 50 new antibody positives, they would report 75 new positives, not 125. It's the opposite of what you are getting mad about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's not shady. The positive COVID tests are for active infections. The antibody tests are for past infections and show a more complete picture b/c then we know how much of the population has been exposed.

Of course it is—they use the daily number to show if the infection is spreading. So, if yesterday we had 100 new positives and today we have 75 new positives plus 50 antibody positives, it looks like infection has increased by 25% BUT INSTEAD IT ACTUALLY DECLINED BY 25%.

Literally the definition of shady.

READ

If we had 75 new positives and 50 new antibody positives, they would report 75 new positives, not 125. It's the opposite of what you are getting mad about.

+1. and still shady

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The VDOH has been ridiculously lousy with collecting, managing, and conveying COVID-19 data from the get go.

Whoever is in charge over there needs to be fired.

State public health agencies have been underfunded all over the country. Do has the federal public health agency.

Yet somehow other states manage to have well functioning state public health agencies. VA has been in excellent financial shape with a pretty large surplus emergency fund.

Lame excuses.