My household has been selected for COVID-19 study

[Ginnyrellas]

Today the health care worker will come round and we will take our first of a year long COVID-19 test. It will also tell us, if any of us test positive and any point in the year weather we have antibodies and how long they last for based on blood levels. I think it’s going to be a very interesting year long study. This thread is for anyone that’s interested in the results... I’m actually nervous I haven’t had a COVID test before.

That sounds really interesting. How did you get involved?

DP’s in a trial for a vaccine and has a diary to keep with his temperature. He’ll get tested every so often too.

Best of luck with that, hope you all stay safe and well.

Is this the ONS one? We’ve been doing it since april and will do for 2 years.

I'll be watching. Thanks.

@SeasonallySnowyPeasant we were picked by the office of national statistics after I filled out a survey regarding working through lock down and what kind of job I have. It’s very interesting that your DP is trialling a vaccine. It’s also quite comforting to know there’s clearly hard work going into this behind the scenes

@Vanannabananna it is. Ours is only a year long. How are you finding it?

Which study is it?

We are in the ONS one, although swabs only not bloods. It was a shambles at the beginning (unsurprisingly given the speed it was rolled out with) but has settled down now. They tested weekly for the first 5 weeks and are now testing now testing monthly. Takes about 15 mins.

Ds2 also has a MORI letter last week to do a home test (random sampling from GP lists).

@Chasingsquirrels are your DC taking part? My DD8 wants too but I think she’s might change her mind after having her first test

Ours is also only 1 year (ONS).

They picked the initial sample from households which had previously completed ONS surveys - we'd been picked for and completed a Labour Force survey in January for which I am doing follow up quarterly phone surveys for (April & July and another to go in October).

Yes, me, dc1 (17) and dc2 (14).
The swab tests are self administered, you need to "tickle your tonsils till you gag" and just wipe around the inside of each nostril (the information is very clear about this and that you DO NOT stick the swab up your nose).
My throat "feels it" for an hour or so afterwards, not sore just know I've done it. My dcs aren't bothered at all.

I was invited for the University College London one but I just couldn’t face the tests - I have a terrible gag reflex as all the dentists I’ve vomited on/sobbed over/bitten over the years will attest. Normally happy to sign up to any medical tests going, and if it were blood tests I’d have volunteered in a heartbeat, but this one was just a step too far.

We are all doing it Including the children (4 &2) and after the initial cock ups it’s gone smoothly.

We are all use to the tests now.

@Vanannabananna
Do you mind me asking how long it takes for you to get your results of your test or do they only contact you regarding that if you test positive?

We've never had the results, it does say that they send them to your GP and I assume we'd be informed if positive so I've just assumed they've all been negative.

We only get the results if we are positive. Been negative so far.

I see! I was getting worried for a second then! 😂 the test wasn’t too bad on Sunday DD didn’t not enjoy it though haha!