Main content

The rapid test row

The huge row that has broken out among scientists about how lateral flow or rapid coronavirus tests should be used.

A ferocious row has broken out among scientists about new coronavirus tests. Lateral flow tests provide results within minutes and some scientists believe they are offer accurate enough results at a speed that could allow us to resume business as usual. Others think they are so poor at detecting the virus that they could pose a huge danger.

In this week’s More or Less, Tim Harford looks at the evidence and what we know about these new tests.

Presenter: Tim Harford
Producer: Chloe Hadjimatheou

(Covid-19 rapid antigen tests. Credit: Chloe Hadjimatheou/BBC)

Available now

9 minutes

Last on

Mon 1 Feb 202110:50GMT
BBC World Service

More episodes

Previous

Deaths at Home, Supermarket Infections and the Cobra Effect

Next

Teachers, Test & Trace and Butterflies

See all episodes from More or Less

Broadcasts

  • Sat 30 Jan 202102:50GMT
    BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East, News Internet & East Asia only
  • Sat 30 Jan 202116:50GMT
    BBC World Service News Internet
  • Sun 31 Jan 202102:50GMT
    BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean, UK DAB/Freeview, East and Southern Africa, Online & West and Central Africa only
  • Sun 31 Jan 202105:50GMT
    BBC World Service except Americas and the Caribbean & East and Southern Africa
  • Sun 31 Jan 202115:50GMT
    BBC World Service except News Internet
  • Sun 31 Jan 202122:50GMT
    BBC World Service
  • Mon 1 Feb 202110:50GMT
    BBC World Service

Unlock the history and truth behind the data with The OU

Unlock the history and truth behind the data with The OU

Explore how numbers shape, and sometimes mislead us, with The Open University.

When can you trust statistics?

When can you trust statistics?

BBC Ideas discovers three easy ways to help make sense of statistics.

Podcast

  • More or Less

    Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics used in everyday life