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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask how to get a test

23 replies

Plussizejumpsuit · 16/09/2020 17:39

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.

OP posts:

Original poster

Plussizejumpsuit · 16/09/2020 17:57

Sorry didn't mean to leave voting on

OP posts:

BritneyS · 16/09/2020 17:59

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 · 16/09/2020 18:08

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 · 16/09/2020 18:10

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.

Original poster

Plussizejumpsuit · 16/09/2020 18:28

@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

OP posts:

Rainbowx · 16/09/2020 18:43

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 · 16/09/2020 18:45

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

Fiddlersgreen · 16/09/2020 18:48

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

Original poster

Plussizejumpsuit · 16/09/2020 18:49

@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...

OP posts:

Farcry66 · 16/09/2020 18:51

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 · 16/09/2020 18:51

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 · 16/09/2020 18:52

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 · 16/09/2020 18:52

We are very central London, hence being carless.

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

Crunchymum · 16/09/2020 18:53

@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 · 16/09/2020 18:57

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 · 16/09/2020 18:58

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

TW2013 · 16/09/2020 19:01

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 · 16/09/2020 19:11

I think you should be in charge @TW2013

Original poster

Plussizejumpsuit · 16/09/2020 19:12

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.

OP posts:

TW2013 · 16/09/2020 19:22

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.

Original poster

Plussizejumpsuit · 16/09/2020 19:26

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

OP posts:

SummerHouse · 16/09/2020 19:27

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 · 16/09/2020 20:04

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

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