Impossible to swab without touching your tongue?

[JulyBreeze]

I've just gone for my second Covid test, no option to have someone administer it again. Both times I've found it impossible to keep the swab tip from touching the top of my tongue, which I know can invalidate the test. (However the first time I went, I got a Negative, rather then Inconclusive, result.) Do most people have this problem, I've heard others voice similar concerns?

If a HCP administers it, do they hold your tongue down with a spatula or something?

I've read someone's post on here saying that in other countries they don't do self administered tests. And medics on here saying it's impossible to self test properly because of these kind of issues.

This article says that there could well be problems:
www.google.co.uk/amp/s/inews.co.uk/news/long-reads/coronavirus-uk-latest-questions-raised-self-testing-covid-19-centres-homes-427570/amp

However this article says faults with self administered tests might not be more than 10% though, which is good enough on the mass level but obviously not on the individual level:
www.newscientist.com/article/mg24632823-200-how-accurate-are-the-results-from-self-testing-for-covid-19-at-home/

If children are being tested much more from September, this will become even more of an issue, I'd have thought.

I was told what to do over the phone by a man stood outside the car. He held up a phone number which I had to dial and then he told me to park up take the stick out and "give it a good twizzle round the back of your mouth, then stick it up your nose as far as you can handle"!? That was the only instructions I got. Feel like I'm going to end up going back for round two aren't I.

I have taken both kids at different times, first time I held her & the nurse did it. Last night I took the 4yo, but honestly don’t think I got a good swab, you’re supposed to do each tonsil for ten seconds 😂 not likely! I managed to dab each tonsil, touched her tongue I’m sure although I also wasn’t allowed out of the car, so was squished in the back with her & couldn’t see very well.

I’ve just had two done in hospital by a HCA and neither touched my tongue.

I'm hoping the 10 seconds is to give some margin for error. I hope the real amount of time needed is more like 2 seconds

@Hippocampe weren't you given the written instruction leaflet then??

No, he asked if I wanted a copy, but I said no as I assumed it would just say the same as what he told me 🤷.

That's mad (of him), there's loads more detail and diagrams etc .....

@SunnySurf

I defo didn’t manage 10sec with my son,’or ten nostril turns-
And it came back conclusive

I've just had a second 'unclear' result. I don't have symptoms so won't be going back (I'm in a lockdown area so we've all been asked to screen). I don't have any tonsils and I'm sure it's something to do with that! I did manage to swab my 5 year old and 15 month old a few weeks back and they both came back negative.

I am having weekly covid tests ..I do it myself and certainly do not push the swab too far up my nose and just touched the back of my throat . Swabs have been fine and negative.

Am sure have read somewhere official that it doesn't matter if you've no longer got tonsils.

It doesn't matter if you haven't got them, you can still test, but because I've never had them I'm not entirely sure if I was swabbing the right bit. It wasn't until I had DS aged 35 I realised I had never really seen tonsils before and they looked weird!

DH was asked to take a home test for a study. He is a real fusspot and was worried about doing the test properly as he has no tonsils. His solution was to buy some wooden tongue depressors from Amazon, £4.55 for 100. He also used a mirror and a small torch, so it was quite a production! If he needs to test himself again we still have 99 tongue depressors left

Had one in hospital the other week as has a temperature (classic acute appendicitis) so they had to check.

Nurse was tickling my tonsils (major gag trigger - not fun when nauseous) and trying to tickle my brain. Not sure my tongue did not try to get involved in the get that the fuck out my mouth party!

So glad it was negative given appendix was inflamed when evicted!

Have no idea how I would do that to either DC, they fought enough at injections!

have just had my second result.... Unclear again!!!

So annoyed. Can I get to speak to someone about this? Is there any way to get someone trained to administer the test??

Have found the testing helpline, 119, open 7-11 7 days a week, so will ring them tmrw.

I had my results back negative inside 12 hours.

Self administered, could only swipe on my tonsils for about 2-3 seconds before I gagged, and the same up my nose. Was extremely uncomfortable, no idea how you're supposed to go 10-15 seconds. I would have been sick.

I know it doesn't matter whether you have tonsils or not but to be honest there isn't much there to swab! I made sure I swiped around the tonsil site loads and the dangly bit at the top and I'm pretty sure I didn't touch my tongue.....and yet my husband who is super dramatic and can't do it without causing a huge fuss and nearly vomiting all over has managed to get two negatives. As previously said I don't have any symptoms so I won't be rushing back, it's just slightly frustrating!!

Just rang 119 (twice, the first person I spoke to managed to cut my call off....).

They can only advise to go again, suggested I try a walk through site this time in the hope that they might be more able to assist - I actually doubt it'll be any different when it comes to it though, but am giving it a go!

They think (!) all sites are only for self-administered tests.

Worryingly, the woman I spoke to quoted the previously advised self isolation period, 7 days, until I corrected her to 10 days (as it became on?Friday), prompting her to check her notes. I found that quite concerning, this is an NHS helpline!

I went to the Manchester airport testing site - it's massive (and it was empty!) - and the first thing they asked when holding up a sign is do you need help with your test. So maybe larger sites have capacity to assist? Could you try a different site?

Thanks @SunnySurf, have now been to our local walk in site, and think I may have managed to swab properly this time.

The walk in site was much more helpful than the drive-in, IMO. Because there's someone allocated to you to talk you through the whole thing, and just to give advice, count to 10 while you swab, etc. Much better than being left in your car alone, at least it was for me.

(The mirrors they have are a bit rubbish though, goodness knows where they came from!)

Will update when I get results 🙏(am a Christian so I do mean that I'm literally praying!)

I can't believe it - they actually got enough sample to confirm us both negative. If I need to test again I'm not going to stress about the 10 second thing. DS was quite distressed at the time but given we still got a result then I think I would put him through it again if needed. It's better for him than staying home 10 days and missing nursery. So relieved not to have to isolate! Although with his coughing I'm going to avoid too many places so as not to panic people!

I seem to be the only one on this thread who had the test done up my nose! Did anyone else? It was beyond awful.

Had the back where my tonsils were and also up the nose. The nose 1 was the worst, 15 seconds of twisting the swab. Made my eyes water and also sneezed for a few minutes.

@DrDetriment I've read similar tales. Inc HCPs being incredulous about non trained people trying to do it on themselves.... but obviously the instructions are different