Up to 5 days wait for a Covid 19 test result.

[HelpIcantfindaname]

DS (31) had a sore throat & headache, so he booked us in for tests (he lives with me).
Boris says you get test results in 24 hours.
The guy at the test centre said 24-36 hrs.
I rang today, after 48 hours, to be told results can take up to 5 days!
We both had plans for the weekend, plus I was meant to be in school setting up my classroom today & DD(11) was meant to be coming home from her dad's.
DS is feeling much better, but obviously we are following rules & staying in till we get negative results.
Has anyone else had a long wait?
And do people agree 5 days is ridiculous?

The gov.uk and NHS only say to give a test for coronavirus symptoms. The wait time is only going to increase if everyone gets a test for every single slight symptom

*get not give

Problem is .... schools want a negative test for every sniffle going

It's going to be a NIGHTMARE ... we're only just getting over the first cold of the season.

Another way of looking at it is that, if we only test for the 3 main symptoms, we are going to miss a lot of cases - or at least only catch them once more transmission has occurred.

And as for schools, what can they do? Coronavirus does often present as a cold in young children .

We got ours in 10 hours

So they need to ramp up testing then @Porcupineinwaiting they knew schools were going back so get again they've fucked this up too.

I despair at this government.

I have weekly testing as in a care home and takes 4-5days to get results. Pointless really as by the time we are made aware someone is positive that person could have been spreading it for that long all through the home....

DD's took 20 hours (she doesn't live with me), the people running the tests often go home early because they don't have enough to process. You just got unlucky

Ps there's several test processing centres, porten down isn't one of them

Son's result came back a few hours after mine, it was negative.
When we booked there were loads of spaces, so the actual centre wasn't busy. I don't know whether I should feel guilty for getting a test now or relieved we know we are safe to see my parents & my boyfriend.
It feels a bit like when my kids were young - trying to decide if they were definitely ill enough to be off school - sometimes if I kept them off they suddenly made a quick recovery, or if I sent them in I got a call to collect them. On this thread some people say we shouldn't have had a test & some say we should. Maybe there should be a bit on the booking form where it asks symptoms & if you don't have the right ones it doesn't let you book a test. But then maybe people would have mild symptoms, not get a test & still spread it.
As for cold season & people going for unnecessary tests with a sniffle it wouid be great to think all the safety measures we are currently following will mean coughs and colds are not as easily spread this winter. (Although I will be working with 90 5&6 year olds doing Continous Provision - learning through play, so I'll be up close to kids all week - hope all I catch is a cold.)

Phew! Enjoy your weekend

Surely 5 days for test results makes contact tracing a lot less effective? It’ll only work if you can get to contacts and tell them to isolate before they’re infectious.

@GoldenOmber no shit Sherlock! Another cluster fuck.

London here, couldn't book a test locally yesterday - well I could if happy to take a 60mile drive. not an option so booked the postal test. Confirmation mail says don't send the test back on a Sunday or bank holiday. So unless test arrives before 11am today - it will be will Tuesday 1st Sept before I take it. Expected much better at this stage and its not very reassuring really in term of how testing will go during the winter.

Finally got our results. Strangely the email came through at midnight - 58 hours after the test and the text came through this morning - 64 hours.

Negative which means I’ve been isolating for 5 days for nothing. Hate to say it but I will only be testing in future if I/children are very sick. Not just a temperature which DD had (39.4) for about 4-5 hours then completely disappeared.

To be fair there was a confirmed case in her school this week so I would still have tested but I won’t be in a rush to test in winter unless I’m in real doubt. There’s no way I can just isolate for 5 days every month.

DH was tested on Monday, got results (Negative) by text late Thursday evening. So 3.5/4 days for results.

My husband travels with work and his company test everyone regularly. He gets his results back in less than 12 hours.

I have a test weekly and the time taken to get results has been as quick as 16 hours and as long as 4 days. It seems very hit and miss but it is generally within 48 hours.
I’ve never had symptoms so carry on as normal while awaiting results but I imagine it’s quite frustrating if you’re having to isolate while you wait.