I have a 3-days-a-week gym buddy. We do 20 minutes of aerobics, another 20 minutes with weights, and call it a day. It’s not a rigorous routine, but it’s a lot better than no exercise at all, and we’re both better at keeping the schedule if the other guy is there too.
One night I got a text from him saying he took a Covid test for an upcoming trip and tested positive. He was required to quarantine for ten days so would not be at the gym for a while.
I immediately called him up and found out he’s fine. He doesn’t have any symptoms. His family took the test at the same time and all had negative results, but the trip is off, and he’s taking the quarantine seriously. He’s not going to work nor anywhere else.
Okay. But he and I were at the gym together immediately before he took the Covid test. On adjacent treadmills, we turned to face each other while we talked. On the circuit of weight machines, we each used the same machines immediately after the other guy did.
While Bonnie and I have both been fully vaccinated, it made sense to both of us that I get tested. Some small percentage of vaccinated people contract the disease, and if I had it, with or without symptoms, I wanted to know about it and get relevant care.
I looked on the Internet for Covid tests and found out I could get a drive-through test at a local Walmart in a few days. I would have preferred one the same day I found out about it, but I couldn’t figure out how to get one of those.
I received email instructions and a confirmation number, and I showed up at the correct time and place. I had been told to bring identification with me, which I had.
A pharmacist came to the drive-through window and instructed me how to do the test. He verified my name, date of birth, and confirmation number and said he didn’t need to see ID.
He gave me a package in a large see-through envelope — sort of like a Ziploc freezer bag. When instructed, I took out a six-inch stoppered vial with some liquid in it and a very long Q tip in its own sealed bag. The pharmacist told me he had just cut off the end of that bag so I could have easy access to the Q tip.
I was told to place the Q tip about a half-inch into my right nostril, twirl it twice around, and hold it in place for 15 seconds. And then do the same for the left nostril with the same Q tip.
I then was told to break the Q tip in half, which was easy because it was made to snap at the correct length. I was told that the vial had liquid in it, so I should take the stopper out carefully to keep the liquid from spilling out, and then place the Q tip cotton-side first into the vial and put the stopper back into the vial.
All that was left to do was to seal everything back into the Ziploc bag and place it in a collection box, which was almost overflowing. The entire test was self-administered and took less than five minutes from the time I first pulled up to the window. In no way was it painful or obnoxious to me.
I received an email 24 hours later. It was not easy to read, but it basically said I didn’t have Covid — with all sorts of caveats. It used the phrase “Not Detected” to summarize the result. I’m including a copy of the result, with names and phone numbers deleted, so you can see what they look like.
Bonnie and I have signed up for a cruise in December. We’ll probably have to take a Covid test within a few days before the cruise. If so, it’s nothing for us to fear.
SPECIMEN ID NOTIFICATION MISSING SECOND ID COVID-19 Active Infection (SARS-CoV-2 RNA, QL NAAT (Unobserved Self-Collection)
Next Steps
Still Have Questions? Contact the PWNHealth care coordination team to schedule a session with a physician to discuss your results.
Monday – Friday / 9:00am – 5:30pm EST, Phone: (855) xxx-xxxx
Result
COMMENT:
Specimen labels must include two forms of patient ID. Only one unique identifier was present on the sample(s). The testing you requested will be processed; however, going forward please provide two identifiers as required by the College of American Pathologists (CAP).
Result
COVID-19 Active Infection RT-PCR/TMA (SARS-CoV-2 RNA, QL NAAT)
Desired Result: NOT DETECTED NOT DETECTED
A Not Detected (negative) test result for this test means that SARS- CoV-2 RNA was not present in the specimen above the limit of detection. A negative result does not rule out the possibility of COVID-19 and should not be used as the sole basis for treatment or patient management decisions. If COVID-19 is still suspected, based on exposure history together with other clinical findings, re-testing should be considered in consultation with public health authorities. Laboratory test results should always be considered in the context of clinical observations and epidemiological data in making a final diagnosis and patient management decisions. Specimens that are self-collected were not tested with an internal control to confirm that the specimen was properly collected. As such, unobserved self-collected specimens from SARS-CoV-2 positive individuals may yield negative results if the specimen was not collected properly. Please review the “Fact Sheets” and FDA authorized labeling available for health care providers and patients using the following websites: QuestDiagnostics.com/home/Covid-19/HCP/ha-sars-fact-sheet1 QuestDiagnostics.com/home/Covid-19/Patients/ha-sars-fact-sheet1 This test has been authorized by the FDA under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for use by authorized laboratories.
Methodology: Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) includes RT-PCR or TMA NO COLLECTION DATE RECEIVED. WE HAVE USED THE DATE THE SPECIMEN WAS RECEIVED BY THIS LABORATORY AS THE COLLECTION DATE. IF THIS IS INCORRECT, PLEASE CONTACT CLIENT SERVICES. PHONE NUMBER: 866.xxx.xxxx
Performing Lab QAW Quest Diagnostics-Las Vegas Ordering Physician Xxxxxx
To feel fully empowered to make healthy decisions based on your test results, it is recommended that you discuss them with a health care provider. Please note, our patient service centers or laboratories do not have your full medical story to provide you with an interpretation or diagnosis.
And that answers the question, “What’s better than a Royal Flush?”
excellent story Bob…..which vaccine did you get ?
Mike: This story wasn’t about vaccines, but Bonnie and I got the Pfizer vaccine in February and March of this year. The fact that we got Pfizer was luck of the draw. On the day we showed up for our first vaccine, all they had was Pfizer. When we came back three weeks later for the second shot, there were different lines for Pfizer and Moderna. Had we scheduled our first appointment a day or two earlier or later, we might well have had Moderna. My opinion at the time was that they were largely equivalent, any vaccine was superior to no vaccine, and that a vaccine ASAP was better than a vaccine delayed.
Good for you, Bob. Concerning your cruise, check with your cruise line for their requirements. Most cruises out of Florida now require a test to be done within 3 days of departure, not counting the actual day you leave the port.
Carl: Our trip will be out of Los Angeles. It almost doesn’t matter where we cruise. we’ve been on several dozens of cruises, usually with a big casino discount, and have been to all the ports. We choose the Mexican Riviera because I have extended family in Los Angeles and the trip combines cruising with a day-long family visit. I think that had we planned a trip out of Florida we would have cancelled it. Florida has the highest rate of Covid in the country and we want no part of traveling there. I know that at least one judge has recently said cruise ships there can demand Covid shots from crew and passengers, despite the governor’s mandate to the contrary, but we would have cancelled way before this ruling came along. And who knows if this ruling is final?
Because of false positives, I think Bob’s friend should have gotten a second test before canceling his family trip. Especially since his family was all negative.
It’s a well known secret that the testing hassle is definetely something that’s completely useless and sooner or later they will have to call it an end. You simply can’t continue the testing thing. Once it’s clear that the vaccine will effectively reduce the risk of hospitalization and severe health problems, it should be accepted that we will have to live with covid-19 as well as we live with the flu and therefore testing becomes less and less relevant. However, more videopoker-related topics are highly appreciated. Or some cool stories about casino promotions are fine, too. Thank you.
From Switzerland
Boris
You got “lucky” Bob, I was tested before each of the five trips to the operating room I have taken during the pandemic, they did not go one half inch up my nose, they measured that number in meters, they went past my eyeballs then swished it around inside my cranium, the nurse thought she was at Starbucks and that I was her lunchtime latte and the Qtip was her swizzle stick…
It’s good to hear that you don’t have it Bob. I haven’t been tested since this whole fiasco started in February/March of 2020 and I don’t intend to get tested. I’m part of the control group. My health has stayed the same throughout although my behaviors are extremely risky according to the guidelines. Such as smoking after other people which I nearly do on a daily basis, not cigarettes. I’ve been keeping up that bad habit going on for 18 months. I figure I should have caught covid 400 times over by now but I haven’t. I’m also drinking more hard liquor and nearly got arrested 2 weekends ago while spending an evening drinking with a friend and then driving home while buzzed real hard at 1:30am. The cops had me dead to rights and instead of hitting me with the blue lights after being right on my tail for 3/4 of a mile they just kept driving forward as I made a right hand turn onto my street to safety. Overall my sixth sense keeps telling my that something is not right with the picture. I suppose that I would have to trust the media and the government that what they are telling me is truthful and quite frankly, I don’t. Native Americans learned first hand as to what the answer is.