Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Teens refusing to consent to lateral testing

69 replies

gruffalo28 · 04/01/2021 18:57

We have received a consent form from school re lateral testing of secondary school children. The idea would be test all children when they come back to school and then if they are close contact of a positive case. I have heard all the negative comments re using these tests instead of self-isolation which I understand but I think it would be helpful to have test before staring school as might reduce a few positive cases and help protect staff and pupils (if/when they do go back). I have 2 year 8s, one has refused to consent to testing. My friends 2 daughters yr 7 and 10 have also both refused. I have tried to explain why its being done, the consequences for vulnerable people etc but dd is adamant.

The thing is she has just turned 13. Normally I make decisions like this for her. If I asked her whether she consented to a blood test she might say no, I tend to put it over as she needs a blood tests to check for x and y and the dr has ordered one and then its a fait accompli that she gets a blood test. This is her first time really consenting to a medical procedure. I think I just have to accept it but would appreciate some advice on how others might handle it. I'm slightly flummoxed by this reaction from my usually very compliant teen dd.

OP posts:

TeenPlusTwenties · 04/01/2021 19:00

Well, I guess the starting point is why is she refusing?

CherieBabySpliffUp · 04/01/2021 19:01

My school are saying that the keyworker kids have to wear a mask all day (only to take it off when they are eating) if they haven't had a test. I know which I would prefer.

sashagabadon · 04/01/2021 19:02

Has she said why? What she is afraid of or worried about? I have just come back from a training course as I am a parent helper for my own kids school tomorrow where they are testing the yr 13’s and we have been told that they can just do the nostrils swab if they do not want to do the throat one if that is an issue for her? She may we’ll change her mind when she sees her friends doing it and realise it is no big deal?

TolstoyAteMyHamster · 04/01/2021 19:03

Yes, I’d want to know why and also where she has got her information from before tackling her refusal. If it’s social media, worth looking at it together to see how robust it is.

That said, I am very uncomfortable with lateral flow testing instead of self isolating. It makes sense to test before getting them back if the alternative is no testing but I have seen no evidence that they are accurate enough to replace isolation.

sashagabadon · 04/01/2021 19:03

It’s a lot easier than a blood test so if she is used to those, this’ll be a walk in the park

Muuuuuuuum · 04/01/2021 19:05

My DD has declined too. The test makes her gag and retch. She is not prepared to do that in front of her friends/ peers. She understands that if she is a contact of a positive, she'll have to isolate - she prefers that to the alternative, at least in theory.

Tbh probably all moot, if schools about to close until Feb

UglyHoose · 04/01/2021 19:06

TBH I don't want DD to be tested instead of isolation. If bubble has been near a positive case then I don't want her near a group of students who are potentially incubating the virus when it could have been avoided.

UglyHoose · 04/01/2021 19:07

Oh and I work in a school and will be doing tests on kids.

hedgehogger1 · 04/01/2021 19:09

Wait and see what Boris' announcement is going to be

Randomrebel · 04/01/2021 19:10

I just told DD 15 that she was having it done as it was the responsible thing to do and she didn’t argue.

Anyway I was a but annoyed as some communication from school said they didn’t have to have it done and it wasn’t compulsory and they could still attend school without having the test and I thought whats the point. She is supposed to have her test tomorrow afternoon so fingers crossed it gets cancelled after tonights announcement anyway.

christmasathomeagain · 04/01/2021 19:11

I didn't even ask mine, just filled in the consent. They will just be told they have to do if they ask.

Felifox · 04/01/2021 19:14

My friend's dcs, Yrs 11 and 13 don't want to do it. But I think we're about to go into lockdown so it's a moot point anyway.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 04/01/2021 19:14

I thought the lateral flow requires either nostril or throat so gagging shouldn’t be a problem.

kowari · 04/01/2021 19:16

Unless it's a case of test or no school, then I'm leaving it up to my teen.

Sixgeese · 04/01/2021 19:16

I didn't give my three secondary age children a choice, I filled in the forms for all of them and told them they were going to be tested at school.

I also didn't given them a choice when we went as a family to the walk in test centre near where we live, the 15 year old was a bit reluctant as he thought it would hurt but was surprised how straight forward the test was, for him it was fear of the unknown which made him not want a test.

It might be different in our area, we are in an outer London borough and in our area the cases are over 1,200 per 100,000 and that is a fall to what it was over Christmas, so everyone is being encouraged to go to the drop in test centres with or without symptoms, especially if you are a family with teenagers.

I view the school tests as an extension to the current tests locally and will save me queuing with them every weekend.

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 04/01/2021 19:21

I would fill in the form and send it back, she'll still be able to decline if she wants when she's at school but the positive peer pressure of everyone else having it done might work in your favour.

CorianderBee · 04/01/2021 19:23

If it's because she's scared of the test please reassure her it's easy. I've been doing them a lot and I'm a MASSIVE wimp for medical procedures (I panic and often faint).

It's just a throat swab and then twist it up your nose (it tickles and makes you sneeze)

airbags · 04/01/2021 19:28

@UglyHoose

Oh and I work in a school and will be doing tests on kids.

@UglyHoose You're physically doing the test on kids?! I thought they had to do it themselves.

WhatTiggersDoBest · 04/01/2021 19:28

My guess is she feels very out of control and scared with the current situation and this is the first time anyone's asked her consent for any part of the pandemic, and she's responding to it accordingly. This is literally the only control she has over what's happening. So she's exercising it. I'm not sure where you go from here with it, except maybe explaining that refusing the test won't change whether she has Covid or not, or whether the hygiene measures change, or anything else.

Disfordarkchocolate · 04/01/2021 19:32

I don't see the value of taking a test that is not effective enough. These tests are only really suitable for people who get tests repeatedly during a day.

Hankunamatata · 04/01/2021 19:34

In this situation it wouldnt have occured for me to give my 12 year old a choice. His 7 yr old sen brother had to be tested so I'd expect 12 to be tested. If not they wouldnt be going to school and be spending the day in their room eoth no phone or tv. As that's the consequences of not being tested

Alwaysandforeverhere · 04/01/2021 19:36

My oldest school hasn’t sent out the form yet. I’d just send it back saying parental consent given. The children still have to actually consent on the day anyway.

Ginqueen456 · 04/01/2021 19:37

My dad 13 will refuse. I haven't even asked her about it yet and I know she will refuse, she is terrified of anything "medical" so as much I want her to have the tests done there is no change of her cooperating unfortunately.

Carolofthebellies · 04/01/2021 19:41

The test isn't very accurate anyway.

Carolofthebellies · 04/01/2021 19:46

I thought the lateral flow requires either nostril or throat so gagging shouldn’t be a problem

There will be two tests: one nostril and one throat.

Flip

1 2 3