[nomel]

> They are more for public health usage to prevent spread rather than diagnostic like PCR.

Like the grandparent, I know several people that have all of the covid symptoms, but tested negative early on. These people just go about their day because they think they have some other cold, then stop testing until their symptoms go away. I would probably do the same.

[mattacular]

My thoughts exactly. I believe the widespread misunderstanding of how to use the different tests and interpret the results will end up hurting infection rates overall. For exactly the reason you mention - it lulls people into a false sense of security. I disagree with this person's take 100% especially since PCR testing has been all but abandoned in the face of the magnitude the omicron wave.

[pyk]

Until a PCR can be done within 15 min instead of 2-3 day turnaround, there will always be a gap in using PCR for public health purposes. That time may come in the future for faster PCR, but it is simply not the reality yet today and we have to rely on antigen tests to at the very least rely on detecting the most virulent days to prevent super spreader events.