Buying rapid antigen tests

[jah steu]

These are available at many pharmacies for around $4-$8 but just a reminder that the main Post Office near Wat Phnom also sells boxes of them, with two types available.
Chinese ones at $40 for a box of 20 tests, and Korean ones for $72.50 for a box of 25 tests.
Just go in the main door and turn right.


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[timmydownawell]

Kind of related, but I've long suspected I'd probably had Covid at some stage, leading to "long Covid" symptoms like cardiac arrhythmia at night and all over aches and weariness. I've been careful, always worn a mask outside since the start of this year. Temperature checks always fine except for two (separate) days, one of which I put down to stomach flu due to other symptoms.

Today I bought a rapid antibody test today, and sure enough I tested positive for the antibodies, so yes it turns out I have had it at some point along the way. The antibody test is a blood test not a nasal swab which cost me $4.50. Pity the antibodies from previous strains won't protect from Omicron though.

So if anyone's developed heart palpitations/arrhythmia, body aches etc for no apparent reason in the past 18 months, you may have had Covid without realising. Doesn't really help me to have taken this test but at least it confirmed my suspicions.

[yongchi]

@timmydownawell. Thank you very much for sharing.
Very helpful!

In South Africa, vaccination rates are low:


But it appears many people have had Covid.
"As many as four out of five South Africans may have contracted the coronavirus, indicating that the country may be one of the world’s hardest-hit nations by the disease, the chief actuary at Africa’s biggest health insurer said. "
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... -had-covid

While Omicron is infecting them again, so far symptoms in that cohort are a lot milder. (Hope it stays that way.) Perhaps previous infections are going to be helpful.

On a different note, I have seen an antibody test also being offered in the pharmacies. Is that the blood test you are referring to?
Can this test distinguish between vaccine and infection induced antibodies?

[timmydownawell]

@timmydownawell. Thank you very much for sharing.
Very helpful!

In South Africa, vaccination rates are low:


But it appears many people have had Covid.
"As many as four out of five South Africans may have contracted the coronavirus, indicating that the country may be one of the world’s hardest-hit nations by the disease, the chief actuary at Africa’s biggest health insurer said. "
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... -had-covid

While Omicron is infecting them again, so far symptoms in that cohort are a lot milder. (Hope it stays that way.) Perhaps previous infections are going to be helpful.

On a different note, I have seen an antibody test also being offered in the pharmacies. Is that the blood test you are referring to?

Probably. I bought mine locally in PP at one of the many pharmacies on the corner of Streets 51/136.

I think it's fair to assume that the number of actual cases probably far exceeds the number of reported/known cases. And despite the symptoms being mild or asymptomatic the ongoing potential for heart and lung damage could affect a big proportion of the population for many years to come. I spent two nights in Calmette last year wondering if I was having a heart attack, but now I think it may have been post Covid symptoms. That $1000 angiogram was cool though.

[yongchi]

@timmydownawell. Thank you very much for sharing.
Very helpful!

In South Africa, vaccination rates are low:


But it appears many people have had Covid.
"As many as four out of five South Africans may have contracted the coronavirus, indicating that the country may be one of the world’s hardest-hit nations by the disease, the chief actuary at Africa’s biggest health insurer said. "
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... -had-covid

While Omicron is infecting them again, so far symptoms in that cohort are a lot milder. (Hope it stays that way.) Perhaps previous infections are going to be helpful.

On a different note, I have seen an antibody test also being offered in the pharmacies. Is that the blood test you are referring to?

Probably. I bought mine locally in PP at one of the many pharmacies on the corner of Streets 51/136.

I think it's fair to assume that the number of actual cases probably far exceeds the number of reported/known cases. And despite the symptoms being mild or asymptomatic the ongoing potential for heart and lung damage could affect a big proportion of the population for many years to come. I spent two nights in Calmette last year wondering if I was having a heart attack, but now I think it may have been post Covid symptoms. That $1000 angiogram was cool though.

I second this. Focusing on dead and recovered people yields a very incomplete picture. I don't dare guesstimating the health impact this is going to have on society.
Maybe I should get this test too. I have had too many strange symptoms.
Thanks again.
I hope you get completely back to normal soon.

[phuketrichard]

....On a different note, I have seen an antibody test also being offered in the pharmacies. Is that the blood test you are referring to?
Probably. I bought mine locally in PP at one of the many pharmacies on the corner of Streets 51/136.

So you all are buying ur own antibody tests, drawing ur own blood and testing it? wow

[jah steu]

So you all are buying ur own antibody tests, drawing ur own blood and testing it? wow

I think it’s a pinprick test, mix a drop of blood with some serum and put a few drops on a test strip.


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[timmydownawell]

Anyway of course it's (belatedly) occurred to me that my positive IgG test may just mean my vaccinations worked. I wish I knew for sure whether I'd had Covid, I've felt so generally crappy for months. If it just means my 2 x Sinovac and 1 x AZ were effective I guess that's good news at least.

Carry on.

[Doc67]

Anyway of course it's (belatedly) occurred to me that my positive IgG test may just mean my vaccinations worked. I wish I knew for sure whether I'd had Covid, I've felt so generally crappy for months. If it just means my 2 x Sinovac and 1 x AZ were effective I guess that's good news at least.

Carry on.

I know he's not you're favourite person, but Dr Campbell mentions the three types of Immunoglobulins in the video below at 5:05 to 6:30

In a nutshell, vaccines only produce IgM and then IgG. Only natural infections produce IgA. Unless your antibody tests can distinguish between the three, then you're not going to find out using them.

I think you can get an antibody test at Pasteur or maybe NIPH? @Jamie_Lambo wrote something on here when he was getting his tests earlier in the year and set out the prices of the PCR, the Certificate and also an optional antibody test.

Hope this helps.

[Doc67]

Here's the post

post483549.html#p483549

It's the NIPH who do an antibody test for an extra $20. Maybe they can give you a definitive test.