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COVID PCR Tests that Ship to the U. S.? (midwest.social)
submitted 1 week ago by to c/covid@hexbear.net
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Hey; for anyone from the U. S., would you know where to get any PCR tests?

I can't tell if they're just out, now, but every place I use eventually stops selling them.

Apparently, the https://www.thehealthhub.com/ sells some, still, but their checkout page seems like a mess and keeps throwing CORS errors; https://www.labcorp.com/ seems to, as well, though I can't seem to load the site on my Wi-Fi, for some bizarre reason (loads on the phone just fine when using data, though). Regardless, the tests seem backed by 23andMe which doesn't inspire great confidence but, also, 23andMe lists their PCR tests as out of stock on their own site (so I suspect LabCorp will eventually list these as out of stock someday, as well).

Anyway, may be a long shot but figured I'd ask.

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[–] 3 points 1 week ago (1 child)

Wait, what? You have a setup to process your own PCR tests?

Thermal cycler? Centrifuge? Vortex Mixer?

I cant even get my wife to let me buy an autopipette and they're only like $20.

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    • [–] 2 points 1 week ago (1 child)

    You need special equipment to read a PCR test, unless something has changed. Do you have that? Otherwise for home testing, you're stuck with RAT tests, which are less sensitive but better than nothing.

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  • [–] [S] 5 points 1 week ago (1 child)

    Are people not as familiar with at-home PCR tests than I assumed? We've been using them (not remotely as early as we should've been but) for much of the time COVID's been around.

    You take a swab or saliva sample at home and then send the sample to a lab and that lab does the testing for you; there's no need, at all, to have any sort of equipment at your home, in any way.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 week ago

    Oh I see what you mean. Yes, the special equipment is at the lab in that case. The usual home tests are RAT. Yes it's possible to do the PCR swab at home, but I don't remember ever seeing the swab stuff for sale OTC. I suspect that you get it by prescription or your doctor or clinic gives it to you.

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    • [–] 2 points 1 week ago (1 child)

    U got a thermo cycler?

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    • [–] 2 points 1 week ago* (1 child)

    Not quite pcr, but there's the Metrix tests.

    https://shop.aptitudemedical.com/products/metrix-covid-19-test

    PlusLife unfortunately will not sell to the US but there are folks out there buying them outside and then shipping them in. So if you have a buddy outside the us, you can try that.

    https://www.pluslife.com/productinfo/1207328.html

    Both are pretty expensive though when you start adding things up.

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  • [–] [S] 2 points 1 week ago (1 child)

    Yeah; I'm aware though I've heard about a lot of people running into issues and having to retest a bit so I'm trying to vie for the PCR tests for simplicity (though I appreciate the mention!). Worst comes to worst, they may be the only options at my disposal.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 week ago

    Yeah, they're not perfect unfortunately and I've heard Metrix had a bad batch a year or two ago, and are notorious for being much less reliable the closer they get to their expiration date. Though I do hear they've gotten better and will replace faulty tests, there's an error code or something to let you know.

    PlusLife are supposed to be much more reliable, but so freaking hard to come by and i can't even afford the $300 testing machine. doomjak

    Good luck in your hunt and if happen to find something, please update your post. I'll be sure to keep an eye out. catgirl-salute

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