I cannot believe how poor the penetration is for this story. It feels like I’m manually telling everyone I know, and they’re each hearing it for the first time.

The free rapid tests that Shoppers Drug Mart has been distributing are duds! They throw a false negative at everything but the highest viral loads!! A negative result from one of these is basically zero information!!! Do not rely on them!!!!

Tell your friends, save lives.

https://globalnews.ca/news/10183219/covid-test-supplier-canada/

COVID test supplier received billions in pandemic contracts after submitting edited results

The familiar lime-green kits were not always reliable in detecting COVID-19, experts say, putting Canadians at risk.

Global News

@elana hmm.

I’d say, instead:

- it’s shitty that they fudged data and cheated the government, but they still have helped lots of people realize they were infected and highly infectious, it’s not that they’re duds

- LOTS of rapid tests are just as insensitive, it’s not that these are especially bad

- better rapid tests exist, and if you’re buying them instead of using free ones, buy those instead, here’s a link /1

https://www.medsupmedical.com/products/acon?variant=40755438158032

L031-125V5 Flowflex SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test

@IPEdmonton @elana I can't seem to find the link

@robryk @elana sorry, I wrote that just for Elana and was just using shorthand to convey to her what I'd tell others instead of what she's been saying. I assumed she knew the link (and still assume that), but here it is for you! https://www.medsupmedical.com/products/acon?variant=40755438158032

Just remember, though, that while these tests are A LOT more sensitive than the ones provided by Canadian governments, they're still not enough to PROVE that you're NOT infected. If you need to know that, any rapid test is the wrong tool.

L031-125V5 Flowflex SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test

@robryk @elana I will also edit the original post to add the link seeing that my side conversation with Elana is now circulating much more widely than originally intended! 😆​
@IPEdmonton I'm so glad people are seeing your valuable contributions!!!!!!!!!!!