anyone doing lateral flow testing at a school?

[StillRunningWithScissors]

Local school requesting people to volunteer to carry out lateral flow testing on students. Looking to volunteer, bit watching the training videos, I'm a bit nervous about messing up the processing of the tests
Anyone here that does this that can reassure me?

Our kids are getting tests to do at home rather than in school (scotland)

I’m guessing it will be mainly supervising and talking them through how to do it rather than doing it?

Don't worry, it's very simple and there are videos you can watch. After doing a couple you'll be fine.

@dementedpixie our school is doing a phased return over a week, where they are testing students on return. Tests will be at home after that

@OverTheRainbow88 that's what I'm hoping, but the training shows how to process the tests/record the results etc.

@LagneyandCasey (love the name), sounds like you're a volunteer. I've watched the videos, and while straight forward, I'm worried that in the midst of it it will be easy to mess up. Thanks for your feedback 🙂

I do test processing sometimes (tests for staff and V/CW children).

Once you've done a few, it's very straightforward.

Wash hands. Put PPE on.

For each test:
Put 6 drops of buffer solution in the extraction tube and put it in the rack for a test assistant to take to a swabbing desk.
Once the extraction tube is returned to you with s swab in it:
Take the test cartridge out of the packet. Label it however your centre does this (e.g barcode sticker)
Squeeze the end of the tube several times to extract the sample from the swab. The swab goes in the bin.
Put the lid on the tube. Turn it upside down, tap it to remove any air bubbles, and squeeze 2 drops of solution into the sample well on the test cartridge.
Start the stopclock. Write the current time on the test cartridge.
Wipe down any equipment and work area. Remove gloves. Sanitise hands.

This sounds like a lot of steps, but when you are doing many each hour, it becomes practised.

If you don't feel confident about the test processor role, maybe try test assistant instead? I also do that sometimes and it's very straightforward.

Test assistant:

Wash hands. Put PPE on.

For each test:
Take the rack with the extraction tube from the test processor to the swabbing desk.
Greet the test subject and talk them through the swabbing process. (We have laminated posters at eye level)
Once their swab is in the extraction tube, pass the rack to a test processor.

Repeat.

the training shows how to process the tests/record the results etc

You won't need to learn how to be a test assistant, test processor and results recorder (or registration assistant). Our volunteers are being asked to learn one role only.

@Faircastle see, that makes sense to me. We just had a link to ALL the training videos for all the roles, nothing stated about which role(s) they want you to perform. Also, I had it in mind that the test assistant and the test processor was for the same role. You make it MUCH clearer. Thank you!

We just had a link to ALL the training videos for all the roles, nothing stated about which role(s) they want you to perform

That would be quite the overload of information.

@StillRunningWithScissors
These are the three roles which can be done by volunteers (rather than by school staff). Realistically I think the first would be done by a member of staff, so really it's only test assistant or test processor.

And this table shows the training modules which are required for each role (unless it has changed since the first week of January).

It was. I had a list including most of the duties you have showing.

Just wanted to say thank again to everyone for replying. Had my first shift yesterday, and after a few tests of feeling all thumbs, I got into the swing of it..