False Positive Rapid Test Policy

[DizMagic]

As a vaccinated person I am currently allowed to opt out of the in-terminal test. But honestly I would feel better/safer going ahead and having that test. But am worried about false positives with the rapid test as those tests have been proven to be less reliable and produce more false positives.

Is there any policy or standard for the potential of false positives with the Rapid tests at the terminal. Just wondering if DCL will allow you to retest if your original test was negative but your rapid test comes back positive?

 

[sethschroeder]

If you are worried about a false positive I would possibly test elsewhere that morning and book two testing times at two different locations.

Disney could be nice and test you again or they could choose to just reject anyone who tests positive. They likely have the option to change the policy at any time as well so even if the day before they let someone retest the next cruise they could say they are not doing that anymore.

I don't see any posted policy on their site either on how they would handle it. It might even be case by case with someone who is vaccinated given a 2nd chance.

Also another option is testing before you leave home.

 

[LolaNJoe]

I haven't heard of any rapid tests I've administered having false positives, only many many false negatives. False positives aren't really a thing with most of the tests, though you may be in an area that uses different tests than we do.

 

[lanejudy]

Disney could be nice and test you again or they could choose to just reject anyone who tests positive.

I highly doubt they would do a 2nd test. At that point, who's to say which test result is accurate? A false-positive or a false-negative? I think they will exclude anyone who tests positive.

False positives aren't really a thing with most of the tests

They happen. My brother had one last winter. He also said "no, there are no false-positives so it must be right." But 3 subsequent tests (within a week) were all negative so it clearly was a false-positive.

OP - if you are concerned about a false-positive keeping you off the ship and simply want to test for peace-of-mind -- get a test done somewhere other than at embark, maybe a local CVS or whomever in the PC area is doing rapid tests that morning. In that case, a false-positive result would stay with you and not be shared with DCL.

 

[BlueRibbon]

Since this test would only be for your self-edification, why not just get a regular PCR test a couple of days before? It'd most likely be free and more accurate.

 

[cvjw]

We did the same. Sail on Friday. Fully vaccinated. Just wanted to make sure we are negative, so we had the IDNow test at Walgreens on Sunday. I would never volunteer to be tested at the port. You could be the unlucky one to get a false positive and denied boarding.

 

[Karin1984]

Every time I had to travel past few months and had to take a test, I took a test the day before my official test.
For my own peace of mind, but also to give me extra time to reschedule in case I would test positive.

I wouldn't do a selftest, as it is hard to do it correctly.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

DCL has no way to know it's a false positive or negative. If they turn a positive, I think you have to assume you will be turned away.

 

[DLgal]

I wouldn't do a selftest, as it is hard to do it correctly.

I disagree. I've done 4 Binax Now tests and they weren't hard to do at all. They require reading and following instructions carefully. But they aren't hard. In addition, every PCR test we have done so far (2) have been self administered in the car. The procedure for collection is the same with the home tests.

 

[dez1978]

I'm sure false positives happen. But I don't think it's often. I've been getting rapid tested daily at work for the last 2 months and so have my cowokers (probably 75 on my program) and there haven't been any false positives. There have been some false negatives tho

 

[Karin1984]

I disagree. I've done 4 Binax Now tests and they weren't hard to do at all. They require reading and following instructions carefully. But they aren't hard. In addition, every PCR test we have done so far (2) have been self administered in the car. The procedure for collection is the same with the home tests.

I mean getting the stick far enough up your nose.

 

[dez1978]

I disagree. I've done 4 Binax Now tests and they weren't hard to do at all. They require reading and following instructions carefully. But they aren't hard. In addition, every PCR test we have done so far (2) have been self administered in the car. The procedure for collection is the same with the home tests.

I agree the Binax ones are super easy. We do those daily. However, even after 14 of the PCR tests, there is no way I could stick that thing that far up my own nose. Have I mentioned recently how much I dislike those tests and the fact that they are a condition of employment?

 

[dez1978]

Every time I had to travel past few months and had to take a test, I took a test the day before my official test.
For my own peace of mind, but also to give me extra time to reschedule in case I would test positive.

I wouldn't do a selftest, as it is hard to do it correctly.

The rapid tests only swab inside the nostril. I assume thats what they are doing, not the PCR ones that have to be sent off.

 

[Karin1984]

The rapid tests only swab inside the nostril. I assume thats what they are doing, not the PCR ones that have to be sent off.

The self tests and rapid tests we have here is to stick it in your brain and twist it around ;-) This is in the Netherlands.

 

[dez1978]

The self tests and rapid tests we have here is to stick it in your brain and twist it around ;-) This is in the Netherlands.

I wonder what brand those are. We've had a few different brands here at work and none of them have been the brain scrubbing kind.

 

[Sykes]

I wonder what brand those are. We've had a few different brands here at work and none of them have been the brain scrubbing kind.

The Ellume at-home tests go quite a bit deeper than I did when I swabbed for the Abbott BinaxNOW tests. The Ellume test has a swab with a fixed length that you're supposed to insert up to a guard and it was quite deep.

 

[DLgal]

I agree the Binax ones are super easy. We do those daily. However, even after 14 of the PCR tests, there is no way I could stick that thing that far up my own nose. Have I mentioned recently how much I dislike those tests and the fact that they are a condition of employment?

The swab is the same and when I went to Walgreens for my self administered PCR test the instructions were also the same. Insert 1/2-3/4 inches up, swirl around with medium pressure for 15 seconds on each nostril, making sure to do at least 5 circles per side.

I've had 3 PCR tests done. 2 of them were administered by a medical person and they all went the same distance up my nose. Same as the Binax Now. The worst part is the stinging sensensation.

 

[DopeyDame]

I would certainly hope that they wouldn't allow anyone to test again if they get a positive test. How do you know it's a *false* positive?

 

[DizMagic]

Thanks for all the replies. I agree that if in-terminal testing is not a requirement by the date I sail, I will just pre-test at another location for my own piece of mind. Also, love the comment on the brain scrubbing test - that is exactly what I felt like the first time i was tested.

 

[sethschroeder]

I would certainly hope that they wouldn't allow anyone to test again if they get a positive test. How do you know it's a *false* positive?

Test them 3 or 4 or 5 times.

If every test but one comes back the same you know which is highly likely to be incorrect.

Issue is not sure you can test that often.