re: Baton Rouge General hospital mid city runs out of test kits

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I have a bad gag reflex and have almost puked on a few nurses

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You gonna make Mikel jealous.

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If they were sent by their doctor to be tested, it meant they were displaying symptoms of a serious respiratory condition and running a fever so they should already be mindful of not getting others sick, whether it's the flu or COVID-19.

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exactly

hell, other than being a complete dick to others, you're playing yourself b/c if you go out in the world with a compromised immune system, you increase the chances of getting COVID-19 yourself

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Those people now know to quarantine themselves.

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they should have self-isolated before they had the test

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It was me. According to the state this morning, 457 tests were completed and 171 have been positive. Using those numbers, it’s a 37.4% positive rate among those being tested, who show symptoms.

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I was using your numbers to make a guess.

1 nasopharyngeal and 1 throat swab.

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Even if all 200 tests prove positive, what changes?

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My question as well. I'm sick, but no fever. Even if I got a fever, I am not seeing the benefit in being tested (unless the fever is dangerously high) since I'm hearing they just tell young people to go home and take OTC medication.

Is there an incentive for me to seek medical help if I come down with a fever? Just making sure I'm not killing myself by opting to stay home

UTM is backordered. That is the media that the nasopharyngeal swab is put in after collection. It preserves any virus in sample. The problem is they are testing people who shouldn't be tested like people who are not high risk for complications. Just treat symptoms.

If you're not feeling well but don't get tested to know for sure, just stay home. There's no reason to go out and about and expose others to the virus if you have it.

I'm in my mid 30s with no "underlying condition" but when I told the doctor my symptoms, she immediately set me up for a flu and strep test. When those came back negative, she wanted me to go get tested for coronavirus. It might not be a bad idea for you to call your doctor just to let them know and see what they think you should do.

The test is a PCR test, polymerase chain reaction. That is targeting certain strands of DNA and amplifying it. If you do this test manually, it can take 24 hours. Plus manual testing limits the amount of tests performed.
Companies are working on an automated method, like we use now for other viral testing. Some only take 45 minutes to run. It will get better as time goes by.