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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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ozark · 14/05/2020 17:50

i was told to not touch the tonsils when i had my test even though it says that on the pack. this is when i went for an actual covid19 drive through.

my child was chosen for this research too and we have signed up, no pack received yet though.

LEELULUMPKIN · 14/05/2020 17:53

@Allflightscancelled Thanks for that!

Pertella · 14/05/2020 20:04

All Allflights, its 1 nostril on the instructions I have

Has anyone else had the random test invitation in the post?
KTD27 · 14/05/2020 20:58

Well I spent hours on the phone to get through and be told I needed to call a different number.
Called the different number and again engaged until 18:01 and then lines were closed.
Here’s hoping the package doesn’t get picked up tomorrow as I won’t have done it!

Allflightscancelled · 15/05/2020 08:48

@pertella that's weird, because it's both nostrils in my instructions, and also in the video I linked to Confused. Anyway, I've just done the test and gone in for both nostrils. It was OK. The nostrils bit made me sneeze!

NextName2020 · 15/05/2020 09:49

I’ve just gone to register him and it says it is full and all participants have been recruited. Wish I’d been quicker!

KTD27 · 15/05/2020 18:41

I finally got an email and my test was picked up today. The throat made me gag and the nose bit made me sneeze SO badly it was hilarious. Not pleasant but all in the name of science

Karinkag · 15/05/2020 21:19

I received it too. But the website does not exist. Anyone has got the same issues?

halfthesun · 15/05/2020 21:27

Hello, I was invited yesterday and went this morning. About 50 people at site giving directions and passing out tests ... instructions via phone and on leaflet. I was in and out of the site in 20 minutes. In that time I saw only one other car which had two people in who were taking the test. Madness that the place wasn't full ....

Original poster
Cattermole · 16/05/2020 09:09

I've got one here. Was this way/that way about taking it because of the vagueness of the guidance (I still don't know what action I should have taken if results a week later were that I'd had it at the point the test was taken, and that is important) but I booked the courier yesterday afternoon. Instructions say you don't do it till 8am on the day of the collection.
Lo and behold I come downstairs at 7.45 and there's a note on the mat saying the courier tried to collect it at 7.40 - and an email at 7.45 saying they will arrive between 7.30 and 9.30 today. There's no option to ask for another time slot on Yodel - the tracking thing says "Returning on or before 16th May" (what is he, Dr Who or something?)
So I'm going to do it now and put it outside the door, as directed, on the off chance he comes back and it's not spoiled by being sat in the sun for however-,many hours.
Not massively impressed, after all that....

OP posts:
JosieJo1981 · 16/05/2020 09:31

So I received my test, completed it and now awaiting the courier to collect. In the information book there is a website to complete a survey following the test to provide feedback (says it's important to provide) when I enter the address it does not take me to the survey. Anyone else?

NyMa · 16/05/2020 09:52

I have the pack from the NHS but have been unable to log onto the address given to book the courier. Tried the phone number many times yesterday but always engaged! Also have tried the online questionnaire site and this too is unreachable. Any help/advice will be gratefully received!!

HelsinkiLights · 16/05/2020 15:19

Well I've logged on to book the courier collection & booked it but it hasn't said what day the courier is coming, just says your collection is booked.
Haven't had a confirmatory email yet & the phone no is engaged!

NyMa · 16/05/2020 16:51

@ HelsinkiLights I finally got onto the site [so much for the it'll take 5-10 mins of your time] and booked the pickup. The day was confirmed by email, I had no choice and it is tomorrow with no time specified. Check your junk mail as this is where mine ended up!

HelsinkiLights · 16/05/2020 17:05

@NyMa I've checked my email both inbox & spam/junk.
But haven't received anything as of yet.
Did you get your confirmation immediately or a few hours later?

NyMa · 16/05/2020 17:23

@ HelsinkiLights It came through within the hour.

HelsinkiLights · 16/05/2020 17:34

I'll keep checking (probably took the scenic route though cyberspace 😊)

StrawberryJam200 · 16/05/2020 21:35

This all sounds quite worrying in terms of whatever the track/trace/test systems are actually going to work....

KTD27 · 17/05/2020 11:04

@HelsinkiLights hopefully yours came through? When it happened to me my confirmation arrived in my junk at half ten at night having been booked at midday. There’s a bit of a backlog!

NyMa · 17/05/2020 11:58

Just to say did my test this morning at 7 am. [forgotten this time exists!]. It is a little unpleasant but fairly straightforward, looking at the online video is a great help. The courier phoned about 8-15 am and told me to expect him about 9-00. He called again to check address as we're a bit tricky to find. He provided an additional label for the box which I had to stick on and then asked for this box to be placed inside his bigger box. I just hope this helps the bigger plan.

Oldraver · 17/05/2020 12:09

I phoned to book a collection and from then in I got a few texts to confirm time etc and then that ur had been picked up

I watched the video and followed the 'where tonsils would of been ' ( I'm sure they have grown a little or what was there is swollen) and the two nose swabs.

I ended up a gagging eye watering mess. Smile

I did get a wet cotton bud and had a practise up my nose to ' feel' the process as I read it has to go quite far up and didn't want to duck up the actual test

gummywitch · 17/05/2020 12:50

@HelsinkiLights Did you receive your email yet? I'm still waiting tho only booked the courier online at 9.55 this morning. Guess they are just so busy.

zoop1 · 17/05/2020 12:57

How long did people have to wait betwen registering and receiving their kit, for the Ipsos MORI/Imperial College studyI? I received my letter on Monday and registered straight away, but am yet to receive anything. The FAQs on the website don't have any indication of likely timeline, so I wondered what other people had experienced. Thanks!

gummywitch · 17/05/2020 12:59

NyMa Really feel uncomfortable about taking an additional label from the courier as well as a bigger box from him to put my box in - Have had no close contacts with any delivery guys/couriers til now! Stressing more about that than the test now

NyMa · 17/05/2020 13:25

@gummywitch My courier was excellent. The extra label went into his box and he stepped back and left it for me to pick out. He kept the correct distance [and more] at all times.