Hi Popeye,
Yes, I have read & heard that regarding retesting positive after negative & that is not new, it was reported in Japan some time ago.
At the time, I questioned testing methods, PCR is pretty accurate. Although with this virus, it may require testing from the lungs (rather than just a nasal/throat swab) for a positive test (later in the course of the disease) please see my previous post regarding this, very unwell positive patients have tested negative & then positive. It is concerning & whether the SARS-COV2 virus has the ability to reactivate or not, something that is really concerning is that scientists have found it can destroy the hosts T-cells. Something we see in HIV/AIDS. It causes a ‘cytokine storm’ in some patients, where this causes the body to have an a negative immune response on it’s own organs, effectively not only to deplete fighting the virus via an otherwise healthy immune system, but also putting the body into multi-organ failure & creating multiple problems for ICU patients, not just respiratory & needing ventilators.
What is really important in what PIQ are doing right now in this research, is to look at what patients may become very sick on evidence from biomarkers (drug availability will be finite in a global pandemic, and some being tested are incredibly expensive).
It will be really great to have antibody testing for IgG & IgM antibodies, not only to test for those who have been infected & recovered, but also as a screening test to see who then may need to go to swabs for PCR & confirm whether these people are Positive with antibodies or Recovered with antibodies & treat accordingly according to biomarkers & risk factors identified.
If we can find that particular drugs will work for identified biomarkers, or even to predict what drugs to give early, not only will this save many lives, it will save on dosing unnecessarily with potentially toxic drugs & will also save Healthcare dollars globally on costs having some kind of predictive tool of who needs what & when to give it (ie early symptoms, may save a lot of ICU admissions).
Definately no conflict, just looking at the bigger picture here. Have a Great Day All, Isolate & Stay Well.
(20min delay)