To think it’s really bloody difficult to do a PCR test on a young child?

[ChuckGarabedian]

Took my two children (3 and 5) for a PCR test this afternoon after they were notified as close contacts. My husband and I had to take the test also.

Both the kids freaked out, we’re scared it was going to hurt, and would barely let us do the test (which for them was nostril only). I’m afraid each of them is going to be void. But I’ll need a negative result to send them back to school and nursery.

It just seems really difficult to do this test on children so young. What has anyone else’s experience been?

It is hard. I don’t think you need to shove it up and twirl it round as long as they say. Had to do one on my 4 year old and I ended up just getting a bit of snot on it. Still got a result.

I suppose the quick swish around the nostril was sufficient as I got the results this morning and they were negative, so that was a relief.

Don’t disagree that it’s a horrible thing for most kids to experience. I wish there was an easier way.

@MindyStClaire Made me smile!

Look, none of us want to pin our kids down. And some of us don’t want to lie to our workplaces/kids’ places of education by presenting completely meaningless tests that we’ve done on ourselves. And some of us know parents who have died because their child brought COVID home from school, and we don’t want our kids to spread it amongst their classmates/school staff.

Horrendous. No matter how big or shiny the bribe, they are not interested. Going into the walk through centre to test my DS6 was AWFUL. I had to try to physically restrain him and swab him at the same time. I really thought it would be inadmissible as it barely touched his nose but came back positive (along with the rest of the family’s)-reassuring for future tests that it still worked.