Private blood tests for antibodies are “not presently helpful”, according to Scotland’s national clinical director, Prof Jason Leitch. “My advice is to only use it for research and surveillance, so I would avoid private serology testing if I were you,” he said, in answer to a question from a reporter.

I disagree with him. I took one of these tests because I wanted to know if my heavy lingering cold at the end of February might possibly have been Covid-19. I had to pay for the test (€70) but it came back negative for antibodies.

The point that prof Leitch is missing is that governments, and specifically health authorities, cannot help the feeling of impotency people feel when faced with the realities of the corona virus. If people want to spend their own money on a test to give them the feeling that they are at least doing something, then let them.

I was sufficiently reassured by the background information on the test I applied for, and it involved going to a test ‘street’ set up in the car park of a local hotel. High profile. I do not regard my decision as either reckless or pointless. It was my money and that is the way I chose to spend it.