Lateral flow tests

I haven't taken one at all. I have no symptoms so don't see the need. I am also concerned about the massive use of plastics. Is nobody else worried about this?

Top tip for the gag reflex though (from a friend who was on a survey programme), is to breathe out as you do the back of the throat. Or say Aaaaah. I'm told it helps.

We all have to do them as youngest son still at college-and did PCR test also when college had Indian variant cases discovered. All been negative but its harder to report them online, theres been problems with it.Son is supposed to report it in student portal too, but keeps forgetting.?

GrannyRose15

The longer we continue testing, the longer restrictions will be in place.
It's time to get back to normal.

I agree with GrannyRose15 but not going to elaborate as I will be crucified for having that opinion.

We have achieved our aim of protecting the vulnerable (of which I am one) as best we can with the vaccinations, we need to get on with our lives now.

Liz46

I went to the dentist and hygienist a couple of days ago. As they would be so close to me, I did a test before I went. When I told the dentist he said that, as I had had both jabs, it was not necessary to do tests.

That's rather worrying.

From www.england.nhs.uk - FAQs for staff engaged in primary care:

Q7. Should staff members continue testing after they’ve received the COVID-19 vaccine?

Yes, staff should continue to test even though they have had the vaccine.

Dentistry is primary care. If he's giving this advice to members of the public I'd be checking whether he and his staff have been vaccinated and do regular LFTs.

Just done my first one this morning, as I am visiting DS and family this afternoon and I have been out and about this week. Must say I am a wimp as well and did both nostrils instead! Remember trying to get a throat swab once and it was horrendous, and thought never again. My test was negative. Will continue doing them now once or twice a week.

People are talking about false positives with the lateral flow test, I had false negatives!! I work in a care home and have had Covid twice the last time was this February so I had to stay in and isolate for 10 days, the result of my positive was from a PCR test that we have done every Monday at work. During that 10 days I did three lateral flow tests and they all came back negative, I am still doing them because I have to but I have no faith in them at all!!

I did my first this week as I felt abit below par - it was negative TG - didn’t know you had to log in a negative test with the NHS though

order mine online, delivered next day. have been doing them since schools went back as look after grandkids, all negative, have also had both jabs. a blood sample just before my second jab showed that as yet i had no antibodies.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

No I've never had the need to be tested.

Galaxy

We just plough through the gagging . It sounds horrendous in this house twice a week!

DS and I do both nostrils instead - as mentioned in the instruction book. DS because he has disabilities and we would never get him to do it, and me because I'm a wimp!!

Sorry its a government site:-

www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

You can also apply on the NHS website and they arrive the following day in a pack of seven. I feel the necessity for every adult to conduct these tests has not been publicised widely enough since it was first mentioned.

rowanflower0

I did a test a few weeks ago, when the whole area had them put through the letterbox. Posted it back same day and got a text next day to say it was negative. Have not seen a test since then.
Are we supposed to be doing them?
Where would we get one?

If you go on the government website there are details of hownto get them. Mainly -

Posted to you on line (one pack per household per day)

Various test sites run by the NHS

Some pharmacies

Our city council also has some sites where they do "symptom free" testing and also give out home test packs.

No, never done one

I have been doing the LFTs (on Tuesdays and Fridays...). All negative so far (as I knew they would be...)
I feel that they are better than nothing.
If I get a positive result I will be able to isolate until it is confirmed - or not - by the PCR test. I need to be able to keep people I work with as safe as I possibly can. Testing frequently alongside wearing a mask, keeping socially distanced and hand hygiene seems to be the way to go and I will be doing this for quite a long time to come, I think.

I went to our local Vaccination Centre to find out how to do them properly - the nurse who was with me said that if she heard people gagging, she knew they were in the right place in their throat.
I really don't like taking the nasal swab, though...

Yes. DS'a college are asking students to do them, and the NHS recommendation is that the whole household test.

The pharmacy we use has just started distrubuting test packs which makes it easier to get enough

I did a test a few weeks ago, when the whole area had them put through the letterbox. Posted it back same day and got a text next day to say it was negative. Have not seen a test since then.
Are we supposed to be doing them?
Where would we get one?

Of course. We're a self-employed oven cleaning company so these tests are another string to our "we're doing our best" bow. Reassuring for customers at a time when we should all be restricting footfall at home and out and about.

My teenaged son who is still at school and dsd who works in a school, test twice a week and I believe ds3’s teachers test every school morning. Our grandson had Covid recently, caught at school but dsd, despite isolating and caring for him, didn’t get it. The rest of us have never had a test or any symptoms. Dh and I are fully vaccinated now and the numbers are very low here. Ds1 and ds2 are working from home and have registered for vaccination.

As a volunteer at our local hospital I have to do the Lateral Flow Test twice a week and log them in on the computer. We get given them free and they are nose only - no back of the throat swabs. We get the results at home within 30 minutes. I've had both vaccines but still do the LF Tests - they may not be 100% accurate but like many times during this pandemic we are (most of us!) just trying to do our best we can to get through it.

Blimey. I haven't done any. I work in a hospital and no-one's ever recommended that I should either.

I'm gagging less now I've begun doing the test sitting at a table with a mirror instead of standing in the bathroom. Perhaps that enables me to be more relaxed.

no because I have got a frail elderly dog and don't go anywhere. I have got a pack though and would absolutely do it if I went out or if I got symptoms

We don't do them regularly but do test before we visit other people or have visitors here, and luckily have been negative so far.
It's an uncomfortable experience but we feel reassured so worth doing.