[Goose]

Off-topic here, but not worth its own thread,
Reconstructed diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the RT-PCR test for COVID-19

calculates the China RT-PCR test (only; not applicable to any other RT-PCR test) sensitivity and specificity:

"The sensitivity of the RT-PCR diagnostic test was estimated to be 0.777 (95% CI: 0.715, 0.849), while the specificity was 0.988 (95% CI: 0.933, 1.000)."

There have been several reports of false-negative issues in the initial outbreak. This paper seems to confirm that there was an issue. One naturally wonders to what extent similar issues exist in the various tests being used worldwide. They are all "emergency" products, not fully vetted by the FDA or equivalent. If we ever had the illusion we were going to test our way out of this mess, similar problems with the tests we are using would put paid to that idea.

[Goose]

Off-topic here, but not worth its own thread,
Reconstructed diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the RT-PCR test for COVID-19

calculates the China RT-PCR test (only; not applicable to any other RT-PCR test) sensitivity and specificity:

"The sensitivity of the RT-PCR diagnostic test was estimated to be 0.777 (95% CI: 0.715, 0.849), while the specificity was 0.988 (95% CI: 0.933, 1.000)."

There have been several reports of false-negative issues in the initial outbreak. This paper seems to confirm that there was an issue. One naturally wonders to what extent similar issues exist in the various tests being used worldwide. They are all "emergency" products, not fully vetted by the FDA or equivalent. If we ever had the illusion we were going to test our way out of this mess, similar problems with the tests we are using would put paid to that idea.