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Original poster

Has anyone else had the random test invitation in the post?

102 replies

Cattermole · 11/05/2020 20:11

It seems like the COVID equivalent of the spot check tbh - it's a random sample. The thing that's concerning me is you register for the test, the test comes, a courier picks it up and bob's your Auntie Flo. A week later, you get your results.
I have no reason to think I have it, I'm a LA administrator working from home, I have no symptoms. I'm also a carer for my mum. It's what I do if it comes back positive? I can't find any guidance on this - after a week plus in which I (theoretically) was contagious and asymptomatic? Because it's a bit bloody late to start self-isolating then, isn't it?

OP posts:
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Al1204 · 13/05/2020 13:05

I received a letter from the covid 19 test research study but I think this is a waste of time as I been in lockdown since march the first as I received a letter from the government stating I should isolate due to the treatment for Crohn's disease look as I may be isolation for ever at this rate as the government buggered testing up

IDefinitelyHaveFriends · 13/05/2020 13:11

They want to know what percentage of the whole population has it, including self-isolators, so if you’re sampled please do do it even if it’s effectively impossible for you to have the disease because otherwise you’ll skew the numbers and they’ll be making decisions based on false information.

Wing1ngit · 13/05/2020 13:16

I got "chosen" too, early 30s and going to do it.

newlabelwriter · 13/05/2020 13:55

We've just received this for my DS who is in Y5. We'll definitely be taking part in it. He's actually thrilled to have been asked Grin

Lady1felicia · 13/05/2020 14:39

I have had an invitation to participate. The website, however, makes little sense and directs me to questions about my IP address. I will volunteer with pleasure though I am retired, I haven’t visited a supermarket for weeks, etc. Has anyone else had trouble with the website or is it just me? I’m glad I read your post as I was beginning to think it was a scam!

myletter · 13/05/2020 15:11

I have an invitation for the test, which I am happy to do. The problem is I cannot get into the website! Any ideas? Just keeps coming up with IP ADDRESSES and when i search through I cannot find anything that resembles.... Am I being thick?

myletter · 13/05/2020 15:17

it seems I am not alone at being unable to get into the website that makes any sense. I to thought it was a scam and started to get very wary of it as Ive had several scam emails and a couple of letters. I dont think it is BUT what do we do? I emailed as stated and have not had a repy and the telephone number is a dead number ( i think as i tried phoning )

Pertella · 13/05/2020 15:49

I had an email saying I was eligible for a test which I went for a couple of days ago.

I had been using the symptom tracker app so I think they selected me at random, maybe as some kind of 'control' group?

I was negative for covid.

StrawberryJam200 · 13/05/2020 15:56

It's nothing to do with the symptom tracker app. My DS has an invitation but wasn't keen to say the least and I'm not pushing him as I know it's a bit unpleasant to do.

If it were me I'd do it like a shot, we should all do what we can to help surely?

They will obviously have factored in that a certain percentage of those mailed will decline the invitation, but the more who accept the better.

BunsyGirl · 13/05/2020 16:01

My 9 year old has been selected. He loves science and is very happy to take part - I have explained that it won’t be very nice having something stuck up his nose!

My friend has also been selected.

Oldraver · 13/05/2020 18:20

You have to input the address very precisely no Googling react study

There is a link that Cattermole posted on her second post.

Mine is being collected tomorrow, so will have to set my alarm to get up to do it

KTD27 · 14/05/2020 15:53

So I got my pack today registered on the website to book a collection and... nada. No text message or email to coNfirm when it’s being picked up. So not sure when to do it. Anyone else?

palacegirl77 · 14/05/2020 16:12

I wonder if these tests will be counted in the 200k a day Boris has promised for end of this month? Good way to bump up that number!

Sylvestra · 14/05/2020 16:17

I received the letter several days ago and have been trying to register ever since. Today, I managed it by Googling "reactstudy.org" then selecting the Ipsos MORI option.

Allflightscancelled · 14/05/2020 16:30

8KTD27* no, I've also received my pack today, booked the collection and received confirmation of it about an hour later. Maybe try the phone number in the booklet they sent?

sv877 · 14/05/2020 16:50

Not really sure I understand the concern about discovering you have it without knowing about it! Either way you have it, at least if you know you can take action going forwards.

Original poster
Cattermole · 14/05/2020 17:18

@sv877 - well, assuming I have the test, someone collects it the next day, it takes a week to process. Say I get a result in 8 days and it's positive.
At that point it's not that I have it - it's that I'd have had it, if you see what I mean? It's information that it's too late to take any actual action on, a week later.

OP posts:
sv877 · 14/05/2020 17:21

Ok, but you would still have had just without ever knowing. How is that any better?

LEELULUMPKIN · 14/05/2020 17:23

How do you apply?

NextName2020 · 14/05/2020 17:23

Does anyone know what you actually have to do? My son has been selected but I don’t know if he will actually let me stick a swab up his nose! What is it actually like? I should prob just get the pack and then if he won’t do the nose part at least he would have done the mouth swab.

Pertella · 14/05/2020 17:33

You have to swab each tonsil (or where they would have been if you have had them removed) and then back of your throat and then as far up one nostril as possible.

The tonsil swabbing made me gag as you do have to go quite far back

Allflightscancelled · 14/05/2020 17:47

It's actually the tonsils and BOTH nostrils. There's a You Tube video:

I'm doing mine tomorrow morning ready for collection by courier some time after 10

Allflightscancelled · 14/05/2020 17:48

LEELULUMPKIN you can't apply, I don't think. It's a random selection of patients from GP registers

Original poster
Cattermole · 14/05/2020 17:50

@sv877 well...but you'd know, wouldn't you? Imagine the guilt if your partner was BAME, or asthmatic, or you were someone's carer - even if nothing happened to them you'd be terrified, surely, thinking you might have completely innocently done something to harm them? - but not be able to do anything to put it right?
I think I will probably ask to not have the results sent to me, tbh. I know that sounds daft, but it's the not being able to do anything about it afterwards that I couldn't bear.

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