Medical staff covid test versus DIY covid test

[christmassausages]

I went for a covid test yesterday that was carried out by a nurse. The swab up my nose went so far up I ended up crying as it was such a shock and it was sore! My parents also went yesterday for covid tests to an offical drive in centre as my mum had a sore throat and wanted to be checked out. They were given a box each with instructions on how to use it. Talking to them, they did not push the nose swab up as far as the nurse pushed the swab she used on me. My inlaws also did the DIY tests last week, again at an official place, and they also do not appear to have pushed the nose swab up very far.

My question is, are all these DIY covid tests going to show the correct outcome? If the swabs aren't being pushed up far enough how can they be correct?

I've wondered the same thing.

How you are supposed to do it...

m.youtube.com/watch?v=9WayjX6vCdk

I've just had this discussion with friends; most people are not doing it correctly at all and just tickling the inside of their nostril and then exclaiming that people are whimps for saying it is uncomfortable. It is uncomfortable but if it feels like that (and if you gag with the throat swab) then it is right.

It depends on what type of swab is used. There are few different types. Some are just nasal swabs that don't go far up your nose. The other type is where needs to reach the back of your mouth (either side of your tonsils) and then I it needs to go right up your nose (to the point where it makes your eyes water)

@metallicalover - but how do the swabs that don't go right up your nose work? Surely the sample needs to come from way up there. Why put people through pain if it doesn't need to happen?

Conflicting instructions on how far to poke the swab up your nose from Public Health England here...

m.youtube.com/watch?v=5qHTBlxfNes

They tested the effectiveness of self administration against HCP administration. Found it effective based on test data. The they being act scientists.

You need to decide whether you believe the outcome of scientific trials or anecdotes on social media.

I know if I have to have a test I won't do it properly as there's no way I'll be able to shove something up my nose or down my throat! For accuracy I'd much rather have a medical professional do it

I think there’s also an argument that medical staff can go a bit too far! The advice is to push until you feel resistance & it makes your eyes water. A nurse cannot feel that for you so they go extreme! I did my own and pushed it pretty far in just past resistance & my eyes were streaming. I found it uncomfortable but not awful. Negative. A nurse did another one for me in hospital & good grief! That came back inconclusive & I had to retest myself 🤷🏼‍♀️

@christmassausages I don't know. It's just what we have been told by the hospital. Certain swabs are for nose and other swabs are for nose and throat. I'm assuming it's cost/manufacturing etc.
Supposedly there's swabs for the inside of your cheeks to test for covid but haven't came across that yet xx

I have had a test administered by a nurse and I really don't think I would have gone anywhere near as far if doing it myself.

As a nurse regularly testing patients, it is supposed to make your eyes water and make you gag. You can feel the point of resistance in the nose as a nurse as a pp suggested you can't. The virus initially inhabits the back of the throat and nose and can't be detected if the swab doesn't go far enough back.

Also if the virus has been in the system for a while, particularly in the critically ill, you won't get a positive swab as the virus moves to the lower respiratory tract and then will on be detected from sputum specimens or a clinical diagnosis with either X-ray or ct scans.

In March my husband had every symptom but wasn't swabbed properly and the swabs cane back negative. He was ill enough to have an X-ray which showed covid lungs however.

I've had a self test and one done by a nurse. Compared to the nurse one, I think I did do the nose right, it certainly made my eyes water. The throat one though, there is no way I did it correctly. I made myself gag so much, I gagger when the nurse did it but it was easier to let her carry on. If I need another in future, I will opt for the test center nearby where they do it for you.