Rapid coronavirus tests showed more false than true positives in the first two weeks of mass testing at schools, forcing children to stay at home unnecessarily. Department of Health data today showed that six out of 10 positive rapid test results between March 4 and March 17 turned out to be wrong when followed up by gold-standard PCR tests. But children may still be told to self-isolate and miss out on classes after the positive rapid test result – even if the PCR test later comes back negative. This means 61 per cent of the rapid tests that were backed up by a PCR test had given false positive results. Data for the following two weeks does not distinguish between negative and void PCR tests.

Source: Daily Mail April 29, 2021 14:49 UTC