Vast Majority of Positives in Schools Likely to be False

The “vast majority” of positives test results in schools are likely to be false, according to Jon Deeks, Professor of Biostatistics and head of the Test Evaluation Research Group at the University of Birmingham. The Telegraph has more.

Official data shows that the positive rate among secondary pupils is around 0.05 per cent, meaning there is a “high risk” that most rapid antigen tests carried out in secondary schools are false positives, according to Professor Jon Deeks.

Of the 3,867,007 lateral flow tests that were carried out on secondary pupils, just 1,805 were positive, according to the latest figures.

Health officials said that less than one in 1,000 results is a false positive overall. However, when the virus is on the wane, there is a higher likelihood of such results, as the number of true cases falls.

The positive case rate in schools equates to one in 2,142. At a rate of one in 1,000 false positives, from 3,867,007 tests you would expect 3,867 false positives.

Worth reading in full.

Stop Press: The Department for Education updated its official guidance today to say that all positive lateral flow tests taken in schools should be followed up by a confirmatory PCR test. Previously, this was only the case for tests taken by students at home.

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Banjones
Banjones
5 years ago

”…..3,867,007 lateral flow tests that were carried out on secondary pupils…”

How many times did they test these poor little b*ggers? This is disgusting, outrageous, appalling – how many more words are there to describe it?

RickH
5 years ago
Reply to  Banjones

It’s like superlatives : you run out of them when the situation is so egregious.

I thought my outrage was under control – but every day brings me more puking disgust at the depths of venality and gullibility that I see.

The latest (the ‘Lenny Henry’ one) patronising bit of NHS brainwashing reduced me to raging fury this evening – black kapo stuff : “What can I do for you, Massa?” – when some minority communities have demonstrated superb sceptical sanity.

karenovirus
5 years ago
Reply to  RickH

Everyone else managed without the Auto cue

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karenovirus
5 years ago
Reply to  Banjones

As an in-house guest of the NHS I find myself tested every second day.

Even though all testing staff are at least Health Care Assistants if not fully qualified Nurses the level of discomfort ranges from ‘is that it ?’
to almost vomit inducing, throat gagging unpleasantness that sometimes results in blood traces in my nostrils.

Still not been vaxxed.

SueJM
SueJM
5 years ago
Reply to  karenovirus

Sorry…. are you not in a position to say ‘no’ to the testing? It’s abuse, particularly if it’s making you bleed. They can’t test you against your will without resulting litigation, surely?

RickH
5 years ago
Reply to  SueJM

You are quite right.

Theoretically.

But who in that position wants to get into conflict? I write as someone who has both acceded to a test, but more often refused one.

SueJM
SueJM
5 years ago
Reply to  RickH

I do understand… it’s sometimes just easier to go along with things. I still wear a mask in supermarkets as long as it’s for no longer than 5 mins!
But karenovirus is very hot on outing the mainstream narrative baloney.

karenovirus
5 years ago
Reply to  SueJM

I’m not hot on creating difficulties (‘conflict’) for frontline healthcare workers who have gone to great efforts on my behalf.
It would be different if the issue was which shop I could or could not use.

karenovirus
5 years ago
Reply to  SueJM

As RickH says above, in theory I should be able to say no to testing but as it is a very minor component in a host of daily tests and medications it seems to me churlish to refuse.
My regular nurse tells me I am very ‘tolerant to discomfort’ so I have no idea what levels of discomfort schoolchildren are being subjected to by not very well trained testing staff.

As quid pro quo I am in a side ward of 8 Socially Distanced beds all occupied by men. The toilet/shower outside the door is clearly labelled ‘women’ but this is completely ignored by everyone which means we dont have to get all masked up to cripple our way past the nursing stations to those marked ‘Male’.
Will also come in handy should someone join us from the trans community, problem already solved.

Still not been vaxxed and I think I’m discharged tomorrow.

steve_w
5 years ago
Reply to  karenovirus

best wishes 🙂 be good to be home!

karenovirus
5 years ago
Reply to  steve_w

This novelty arrived by txt this morning. Sadly I have never downloaded the app so I am unable to comply.

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SueJM
SueJM
5 years ago
Reply to  karenovirus

Best of luck to you.

SueJM
SueJM
5 years ago
Reply to  karenovirus

Best of luck, k.

Mitch
Mitch
5 years ago
Reply to  karenovirus

As you seem to inhabit largely a dream world, why not just alter the bits you don’t like?

Occamsrazor
Occamsrazor
5 years ago

I’ve not consented to testing for mine. I am still shocked – even after a year of being shown how utterly awful people are – that so many parents are allowing their children to be tested. What on earth do they think will be achieved by it.

SueJM
SueJM
5 years ago
Reply to  Occamsrazor

They’re viewing things as a photographic negative.

SueJM
SueJM
5 years ago

Children are resilient…they tell us…. Just where do we draw the line?