I took a Coronavirus test on Saturday, and I still haven’t received the results. I’m very confident I have it, but would like to know for sure. Well, I’m now being told it’ll likely be another 3 business days before they get back to me. What good is a test that takes 12 days?
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Replying to @MEPFuller
The sensitivity of the test (% with COVID19 who test +) is ~60-70% (depends on test/technique). If the clinical scenario suggests COVID19 there's a good chance you have it even if the test is negative. (Technically, negative predictive value is low if pretest probability is high)
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Replying to @AmeetRKini @MEPFuller
what would be the sensitivity / utility of repeating PCR x 2? Perhaps for all patients being admitted with resp complaints..
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Replying to @grepmeded @MEPFuller
If the sensitivity is 70%, repeating x2 would increase it to 91% (1-0.3*0.3) IF tests are independent. But the repeat may have the same issues (techniques, time-course, etc). A potential problem with repeat testing, if done in asymptomatics, is lower positive predictive value.
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Thanks medicine has ruined my former engineering brain, was doubting the math would be so simple 
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