Something Bogus on Covid Testing

[PAC12Teams]

Something extremely bogus is going on. Was tested for covid four times today. Two tests came back negative, two came back positive. Same machine, same test, same nurse. Rapid antigen test from BD.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 13, 2020

[SkinyUte]

The test has a very low false positive rate, somewhere between 2 to 0%. The false *negative* rate varies.

So if he took 4 tests, and two are positive, then he almost *CERTAINLY* has it (especially since he admits to having flu-like symptoms) — and that high false negative rate is why he was tested multiple times.

[PlainsUte]

Operative word here is “Rapid”.   A PCR test is more accurate and reliable, but it is not rapid.

[Utesbyfive]

The antigen test isn’t as reliable as the PCR test. In fact, a lot less reliable.