Anyone thinking of going for a test? You should.

[CatherineCawood]

I have the Zoe app and have been faithfully logging any symptoms for weeks and weeks. This week I've had a stuffy nose and a feeling of lots of snot at the back of my throat and a blocked ear on and off.

I told the Zoe app this on Wednesday and they emailed me and said I should get a test. I didn't think that the symptoms were considered covid symptoms, I think its more of a summer cold/hayfever type thing.

I thought as they had told me to go get a test I should, as they are doing research and they need to know if my symptoms were significant or not.

Had my test yesterday at a testing centre (self test done in your car), bloody gob smacked to get a text and email today telling me I am positive for COVID-19 😱

So if you think you might have it go get a test, don't think you are taking one that someone else could have or wasting anyones time. If I hadn't had it I would now be carrying on like normal. When I booked my test there were over 1000 tests avalible at my local centre that day. When I went it was empty in and out in 10 mins.

Where I got it from I have no idea. I've seen 2 people for distanced walks this week, That's it. I dropped into ASDA last Friday but was in there for all of 10 mins, served myself sanitised my hands before and after. I also visited the pharmacy but again was careful with hand washing.

Sent my DH for a test today as he is rather more social than me. He booked a test and had it within an hour.

[Lindy2]

I'm on the Zoe app and I've been tested 3 times now. There's a lot of testing capacity so basically if you enter any symptoms you'll probably get asked to do a test. They are building up a data base and need both positive and negative test results for their research. I've been tested for a temperature, a headache and this week a sore throat.

All 3 of my tests have been negative which is reassuring. I've got such a sore throat right now so I'm relieved to be able to know it's not Coronavirus. How I have caught a bug though while hardly going out and lots of handwashing, I'll never know!

I hope your symptoms stay mild OP and you are fully recovered soon. It was definitely worth you getting a test.

[rc22]

I had a test on Tuesday as I felt a bit off and was already self-isolating for 14 days as a colleague I had been working with tested positive. My test was positive but had I not been in contact with someone with cv, I would probably have put it down to hayfever. To reassure people, the test was a little uncomfortable but certainly not painful.

[Myfriendanxiety]

You can choose then you book for a testing station or a home test.

I took DC to a testing station but had to administer it to her myself in the car as they don’t do under 11’s. I believe they were testing adults there though.

[lockdownalli]

I also got referred via ZOE app.

I did home test yesterday and it was collected from my porch early this morning. I didn't find the test itself difficult or painful. The thing I found almost impossible was making the bloody cardboard box to send it back in

I doubt I have the virus but it will be interesting to find out. I know two nurses who have been tested positive for COVID weeks ago and recently had the antibody test through work and found they had no antibodies

[Laiste]

''I know two nurses who have been tested positive for COVID weeks ago and recently had the antibody test through work and found they had no antibodies''

So one set of tests was wrong or people don't always produce anti bodies. The later means quite a big reduction in the point of knowing who's had it surely?

I did read god knows when that 1 in 10 test results wrong anyway. One way or the other. Are they still saying this is the case?

[CatherineCawood]

@justanotherneighinparadise

I was invited to take a test today but I decided not to. Can I ask what your symptoms were, did you have s temperature?

My symptoms are like hayfever, so snotty nose, sore throat and an on/off blocked ear. No temperature, no cough. Quite a typical. I was very hesitant to book a test, I was offered one by Zoe before but didn't bother as I only had a sore throat for a day and was fine the next day.

The testing capacity seems big so I wouldn't hesitate to book one. If I hadn't booked one and found out I has plans to meet a heavily pregnant friend in the park tomorrow for a chat and walk. Bloody glad I did the test now.

[Orangeblossom78]

Mine have been like that too. Thing is taking it now even if started months ago, would mean DH taking weeks off work and DC off school (just back for all) while most probably not even being contagious anymore so not sure if it is worth all the stress - i guess like you say best to know though. I'm a bit worried if the school know they might close or send bubbles home or something.

[CatherineCawood]

@justanotherneighinparadise

Don’t they want you to self isolate whilst the test is analysed? That’s what put me off as the likelihood of having it is so minute due to hardly ever going out.

Yes but I had my results in 25 hours. I only came home and worked all day, got up this morning started work and got a text at 10.30am. So I didn't miss out on anything really. Can't go out and do much anyway so happy to stay home.

[shortsaint]

My DH signed up for the vaccine trial the other day but was declined because he has the antibodies.

Apparently it's because he's had it (he's been fine) or he's been in contact with someone with it.

But they say he could still get it? Not sure what this means... I had the weirdest virus in Jan/Feb which gave me a bad cough, sleeplessness, tiredness. In hindsight it could have been C19 but too early? Would be good to know! Have not had a test.

[Lostinagoodbook]

Anyone know why they won't test under 11s for you? Concerned about getting inconclusive results from being too gentle as I don't want to injure my 11 month old doing it........

[CatherineCawood]

@JustSew

I have the Zoe app as well even though I'm shielding.
Be interesting to hear if you get track and traced? If your DH is the social one then I'd be blaming him!

I got a track and trace text and had to go on a website and answer questions. they then texted my 2 friends (I had prewarned them) both have to SI for 14 days (one is a teacher I feel so bad).

T&T rang me about my son to inform me that he had been in contact with someone with COVID, I said, yes I know, that's me!!! They then have to ring me again to go through the same conversation and questions for my daughter!! Very silly. DH also got a text telling him to SI for 14 days.

[FleasAndKeef]

Shedding of viral particles continues for a very long time after an initial positive test- several months in some cases.

However, you are only infectious for 7 days after onset of symptoms.

So yes it is possible that your illness in March was coronavirus and your test recently is still showing positive from then...

[Cremebrule]

Lostinagoodbook I don’t know but I think they should. When my eldest was 16m she had to be swabbed at the GP for something else and the GP said it was uncomfortable and hard to do the little ones. I have no idea how they expect parents to do it properly.

[SockYarn]

@CatherineCawood I have exactly the same symptoms. You have me worried!

[Orangeblossom78]

So if you tested positive presumably would then need to get DC tested too and inform schools ?

[CatherineCawood]

[quote SockYarn]@CatherineCawood I have exactly the same symptoms. You have me worried![/quote]
have a test, is the only way to find out!

[CatherineCawood]

@Orangeblossom78

So if you tested positive presumably would then need to get DC tested too and inform schools ?

neither of mine are at school, 1 x yr 13, 1 x yr 9. They had a test today along with DH.

[Lostinagoodbook]

Cremebrule I spoke to the gp as I don't even think he has it (temp of 38 for less than an hour at nursery) but they have to follow guidelines and he can't go back until tested. Gp was pretty incredulous and said obv not coronavirus, said sorry didn't know what to say- try to do the test or stay off work due to no childcare! Apparently they have only known of little ones to have the test if admitted to hospital with symptoms.....

Quite nervous about doing it and worried this might be a regular issue through winter :-(.

[SockYarn]

Have booked a test. 1383 slots available over the next 5 days at the local airport. Fair to say they aren't overwhelmed. DH making plans to confine me to the garage.

[Orangeblossom78]

Mine are year 10 and 6 just gone back

[Lostinagoodbook]

They did also say they have no idea how I'd do it as they have great difficulty with similar procedures and they are trained- so I'm with you- have they even considered how parents can do it???!!!!

[Branster]

OP IF you actually had it in March and IF the test is a true positive then what you have here are remnants of the virus from March. It is some sort of long shedding process, and you are not infectious anymore and you are not actually infected or ill as such anymore either.
I follow the podcasts from CIDRAP and the chap there explained this very clearly in this week (or last week’s??) episode.
Although this does not apply to you in this case, some people test positive, then negative then positive again which means the negative reading was only negative because the test only detects x number of virus units so the virus is still there but in too low a number for the test to pick it up then it goes up a bit more for some reason.
I wish that a) we had a fast, easy to use at home reliable test and b) we’d know more about how this virus behaves.
There seem to be a lot more information available from other countries. Here I the UK we don’t know anything and nobody is explaining much.

[Ponoka7]

Laiste
"So one set of tests was wrong or people don't always produce anti bodies."

Not everyone will produce antibodies. They know that some people will and will have some immunity, but that is showing to vary, person to person. You get false negatives, but not false positives.

It's why everyone is being encouraged to donate plasma, even if they've just had symptoms, because not everyone's plasma will be of use and we need lots.

Unfortunately those more vulnerable, are showing that they aren't producing antibodies and immunity doesn't happen.

[Myfriendanxiety]

@Lostinagoodbook I had to do one today on my 14 month old. You need two adults really, one to pin their arms and one to hold their head. I was on my own so left DC in the car seat, put a backwards cardigan over her to pin her arms in and then tried to hold her head and swap. It was pretty difficult and I’m expected inconclusive results as her nose is so tiny you don’t want to force it too far in and hurt her! It was pretty traumatic for us both.

She had a temperature for 12 hours. It’s gone down now and she is a picture of health this morning!

[Lostinagoodbook]

@Myfriendanxiety ok thankyou for the tips- I'll do my best!!! Will get husband to help. Did you get tested too? Mine had a temp for less than an hour and seems fine but need him back at nursery....