To ask how to get a test

[Plussizejumpsuit]

I have been unwell for a few days. I'm pretty sure it's just a sinus infection. But I have lost my sense of smell and taste so think I should have a test. I have been trying for days and there's nothing coming up. So I just wondered if anyone had any tactics? I'm not sure when it says no test sites found if I should just click continue or should I enter my details all over again? Or would I be better off refreshing the page in my browser? Also I have tried when I've got up for a wee in the middle of the night at various times with no joy.

I'm not sure how they are allocated does anyone know? So if I can't get one today should I keep trying for the rest of the day or will there be no more for the day?

I know everyone is trying and I'm probably clutching at straws asking for tips but just feel desperate.

[Plussizejumpsuit]

Sorry didn't mean to leave voting on

[BritneyS]

I did a bit of both, you can click “change postcode” and it goes back to the “find a test” page. But my success came when I started from new again so perhaps do that every now and again? Good luck

[perfectpanda]

I had luck at 6 30pm last night ( a mumsnet tip). I had managed to get past the robot page and then kept the page open on at least 3 devices! And at 6.30 kept refreshing and suddenly some test sites came up. Best of luck it's utterly soul destroying!

[Crunchymum]

We are trying for one too, and we are limited as we are a non driving household so need a home testing kit.

Utter horror show.

[Plussizejumpsuit]

@Crunchymum

We are trying for one too, and we are limited as we are a non driving household so need a home testing kit.

Utter horror show.

God that's even worse. I didn't have a car for a lot of years when I lived in London so can easily see how this is the case for many households.

Thanks for the advice

[Rainbowx]

We gave had tests done on sunday took me 3 days to get an appointment walk in as no car and no home tests but once booked everything went well the test is ok done ourselves in a pod get instructions etc makes u gag as swab back of throat tonsils area all staff very helpful results in a day via text and email all negative

[YouCantBeSadHoldingACupcake]

I managed to get one that came online at 9:30 am yesterday for the evening, 30 miles away but still

[Fiddlersgreen]

Isn’t there also a time limit of when you can take the test?
I think it was up to 4 day’s after symptoms started

[Plussizejumpsuit]

@Fiddlersgreen

Isn’t there also a time limit of when you can take the test?
I think it was up to 4 day’s after symptoms started

Yes so I'd want to get one tomorrow really to fit in that time frame. Which is unlikely...

[Farcry66]

When I was trying to get one on Sunday I refreshed the page at exactly 8pm and loads came up, but they went within a few minutes, but I managed to book the ones I needed.

[SummerHouse]

You don't need to fill form in again (although I did about 20 times). My success came at about 20:06 on Monday evening. It wasn't a freshly filled form. I had been going to "change postcode" and then "find a test" (or whatever wording it is). This sometimes had to be clicked up to 10 times. It seemed quicker if I repeatedly hit it very quickly. When it went to a lighter colour I knew it was refreshing.

Good luck.

[evrey]

I was trying for my daughter for 3 days straight , I recon i refreshed over a thousand times a day. anyway someone on my local fb page suggested putting an Aberdeen postcode which generated a QR code . we took said QR code to our local testing centre (hundreds of miles away from Aberdeen) and it worked. people at the testing centre said lots of people are using this hack.
Other than that. the new drive through slots are released at 8pm and walk though slots at 8am. good luck.

[Crunchymum]

We are very central London, hence being carless.

If we fancy a walk to Enfield then we can get a test

[Crunchymum]

@evrey

I was trying for my daughter for 3 days straight , I recon i refreshed over a thousand times a day. anyway someone on my local fb page suggested putting an Aberdeen postcode which generated a QR code . we took said QR code to our local testing centre (hundreds of miles away from Aberdeen) and it worked. people at the testing centre said lots of people are using this hack.
Other than that. the new drive through slots are released at 8pm and walk though slots at 8am. good luck.

what is a QR code and how does it work?

[SummerHouse]

At my test center I showed my QR code and they asked me to scroll down to show time, date, location as they had to check that too. Not sure if they would have let me in without the right location but that's the impression I got.

[SummerHouse]

QR code is like a square bar code that can be scanned.

[TW2013]

I switched between walk in and drive in to refresh the page. Took a couple of hours. Also don't click the first slot as everyone might do that, click one slightly further down. You need to get an email to confirm the booking. It would be much fairer if they just had a queuing system for the website.

[SummerHouse]

I think you should be in charge @TW2013

[Plussizejumpsuit]

I actually had a test back in June and did just get a qr code. If anything at all came up I would try this. Thanks for the adv. Everyone trying has my sympathy it's just really crappy we're back here again.

[TW2013]

Love to SummerHouse but with three children in three schools am too busy with the Coronavirus Hokey Cokey.

You put the oldest one in, the younger one out, in, out, in, out swear a little bit. You do the coronavirus shuffle and turn slightly mad, that's what it's all about.

[Plussizejumpsuit]

@TW2013 I can't image what this is like right now!

[SummerHouse]

Good god you are a hero. At least you have your sense of humour intact. Coughing has been outlawed in our household. Might introduce the steaming turd test to check validity of loss of smell claims...

[DDiva]

I managed to book one at 6.30pm on Monday for the following day. I've heard this is a good time.....