Claire Byrne was given a soft Covid test live on air by Professor Sam McConkey because the TV host said she didn’t want there to be any chance of bleeding.
One of the country’s popular Covid experts was in Leinster House this morning when he revealed that he didn’t go as hard as he could have in demonstrating the test process.
Professor McConkey said that in one in 50 cases the test that takes a swab from the back of your nose, near your throat, draws blood.
He said “this wouldn’t look good on live TV.”
The test most commonly used, the Nasopharyngeal, can be quite invasive and a little uncomfortable, and as Professor McConkey told the Oireachtas Covid committee can cause bleeding.
Also, he said the test may have to be repeated if a proper swab isn’t collected, going in deeper a second time, and so increasing the risk of a bleed
He said: “We’ve published a study in Beaumont (Hospital) with ENT surgeons looking at how well are the swabs being done.
“The best swabs are taken from bronchial lung fluid, which is quite invasive.
“The second best is Nasopharyngeal swabs, where you have to go right back to the back of the nasal pharynx and sort of tickle the back of your nose.
“I know you probably saw me do that on Claire Byrne on live TV, but I didn’t really go into her nose very much because she told me she didn’t want any bleeding, a chance of bleeding, and bleeding obviously isn’t good on live TV.”
