# Anal swabs more effective in detecting COVID, says Chinese scientist **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [January 27, 2021, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anal-swabs-more-effective-in-detecting-covid-says-chinese-scientist/931641 "2021-01-27T20:39:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kedikat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kedikat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kedikat)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2021, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anal-swabs-more-effective-in-detecting-covid-says-chinese-scientist/931641/21 "2021-01-30T05:37:45Z")
Bite my tongue and pass on by… ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2021, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anal-swabs-more-effective-in-detecting-covid-says-chinese-scientist/931641/22 "2021-01-30T23:52:42Z")
I’m spoilering this with two clicks because. . . well, I don’t know. It’s exactly on topic and it’s just a line drawing. But consider the title of the thread. > **Summary** > > [Quick COVID-19 Anal test! - Imgur](https://imgur.com/6qDoOGa) ---
**Author:** ![arles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/71c47a/32.png) [@arles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arles)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2021, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anal-swabs-more-effective-in-detecting-covid-says-chinese-scientist/931641/23 "2021-02-01T19:47:39Z")
And for a chuckle this morning. From the Daily Mail, a “fake” Chinese video that was taken down shows patients waddling like penguins after getting their swabs. ## China assures its citizens they won’t waddle ‘like penguins’ following coronavirus anal swabs after ‘fake’ video goes viral [https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9168707/Coronavirus-China-blasts-fake-video-people-waddling-like-penguins-COVID-19-anal-swabs.html](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9168707/Coronavirus-China-blasts-fake-video-people-waddling-like-penguins-COVID-19-anal-swabs.html) ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2021, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anal-swabs-more-effective-in-detecting-covid-says-chinese-scientist/931641/24 "2021-02-02T03:14:56Z")
It will only be a matter of time before someone ends up in the ER and explains it away as having slipped in the shower. ---
**Author:** ![FigNorton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fignorton/32/5619_2.png) [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2021, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anal-swabs-more-effective-in-detecting-covid-says-chinese-scientist/931641/25 "2021-02-02T03:32:01Z")
I’m sort of in the same boat. I don’t much like talking to people. Next time someone starts asking me screening questions, I’ll tell them I opt for the anal swab. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2021, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anal-swabs-more-effective-in-detecting-covid-says-chinese-scientist/931641/27 "2021-02-02T23:13:08Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > So mask, gloves, and diaper now? Early last year, science reporter on our government radio station was recommending that, to reduce transmission, people wear some form of covering on their bottom when out in public 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FigNorton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fignorton/32/5619_2.png) [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2021, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anal-swabs-more-effective-in-detecting-covid-says-chinese-scientist/931641/28 "2021-02-03T00:36:52Z")
There was a story I heard a ways back on what must have been a very slow covid news day. It explored “how covid safe are nudists?”. I think the verdict was that maybe they should be careful when they sit on shared furniture. 🤯 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anal-swabs-more-effective-in-detecting-covid-says-chinese-scientist/931641.md?page=1)