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Covid

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Original poster

Drive Through Testing - what happens?

12 replies

LittleRen · 09/09/2020 19:22

Me and two of my three children have cold symptoms - I am 90% sure it's a cold but my youngest has spiked a temperature only for a few hours and my middle child and myself are both coughing on and off this evening, not continuous but it's there for sure. Feel very cold like... bunged up etc. Anyway decided to do the right thing and have booked a drive through test tomorrow morning.

Can anyone tell me what to expect - I have a 2.5 year old and a 5 year old being tested as well as myself. Will they do it or will I? Can I take my husband (couldn't book a test for him) as he is far better at doing this kind of thing than me, an if I have to stick something up my youngest child's nose who kicks off at the tiniest of things then I think he is best placed to do it and my youngest is a daddy's boy

Any advice appreciated :)

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 09/09/2020 19:25

Yes take him. Lots seem to have to do the tests themselves. Think you need to stay in the car to do it

Whydididothatfuckingthing · 09/09/2020 19:53

You need to stay in the car for the tests. With children under 11 the parent/carer collects the sample. I’m not sure what happens if there is an adult being tested as well.

questionssquestions · 09/09/2020 19:58

Take two adults, one in the back seat. Keep DC strapped into car seats. Do yourself first to show it is no big deal. Hand over iPad with good show on. Promise treats if they hold still. Driver holds kids hands, adult in back seat holds chin and swabs both nostrils. Then be really careful putting swab in tube without contaminating it. Hand over chocolate biscuit or such. Done!

I did my 2.5 year old. He cried during, but not before or after. He cried more when I brush his hair tbh. He has been asking to go again to get another biscuit.

Make sure to watch a 'how to test yourself' video before you go, so you can keep your attention on squirming toddlers and so it all goes faster.

questionssquestions · 09/09/2020 20:01

Oh, and you can take an adult who is not being tested. For kids you do the tests yourself. They will show you a number to call, then post test kits through your window and talk you through it over the phone. But much better you learn how to do it beforehand as you won't have enough hands to manage everything and a phone too.

MaidenMotherCrone · 09/09/2020 20:10

Different test sites have different procedures. At mine your QR codes are checked (make sure you take photo ID for all those being tested) and the tests are posted through the car window. You then drive to an undercover testing area and a testing assistant talks you through the whole thing, checks everything is done correctly and then directs you the drop off area where the tests are collected through the car window.
Do not get out of the car or open the door whilst at the test centre.
Most are self test sites so you do yourself and your children and yes your husband can go with you.

MaidenMotherCrone · 09/09/2020 20:11

Most don't use burner phones anymore it's a better experience if someone is there directing you face to face.

Fishlegs · 09/09/2020 20:16

I took my 5 year old today. I’d talked her through it beforehand and we’d practised with a cotton bud (I didn’t go right to the back of her throat, only to the inside of her cheek so that she had the idea).

I wasn’t sure if they would do it or I would, but it was fine, the testing lady did it and dd opened her mouth with no bother. They only took a throat swab. There was just me and her in the car. Then we went home and ate chocolate, which is always a good bribe.

MiteBiteatNite · 09/09/2020 20:20

We were tested yesterday. There were no phones involved, they spoke to us through a closed window which was fine. Nobody showed photo ID or a QR code and we did the tests ourselves.

I'd go against what some have said and do the kids first, because you will gag and sneeze (if you don't, you've likely not done it properly) and if they see you struggling it might make it difficult. I did our most 'sensitive' child first, then our eldest, then DH and I swabbed ourselves.

Make sure one of you is sitting in the back before you drive into the testing site as you can't leave the car after that. If the swab touches a tongue or cheek you need to put your hazard lights on to signal you need help and ask for another one.

Oh and keep your Aircon on because it gets HOT with so many bodies and all the windows closed.

Original poster

LittleRen · 09/09/2020 20:22

This is all SO helpful. Thank you all so much

OP posts:

questionssquestions · 09/09/2020 20:25

I didn't gag or sneeze and I got a valid result, so must have done it right. But I'm sure it is different for everyone. I was putting on a bit of a brave face for the kids though.

I am pretty sure that young children can always do a double nostril swab. It is much easier as you don't have to worry about touching the sides of the mouth and starting all over again.

Definitely dress lightly though, it does got hot with all the windows closed.

MiteBiteatNite · 10/09/2020 15:29

I didn't gag either, because I can, errr, suppress my gag reflex but I did sneeze. It was a staff member who told us if you don't gag or sneeze you've probably not done it right.

OP how did it go?

Original poster

LittleRen · 10/09/2020 16:15

Hi all!

It was quite stressful but only because it was hard being in the car and trying to juggle everything. I didn't realise you put the vial inside a bag inside a bag, and had discarded the smaller bag somewhere in the car then when the man came to collect the test I had to scramble to find these tiny bags so stress levels were high. My husband sat in the back and my 7 year went in the very back so he didn't get in the way.

I found the mouth test the worst - it did made me gag but not vomit, any longer I probably would have been sick. The nose made my eyes stream and I was desperate to sneeze but I am bunged up anyway. I think I would have preferred someone to do it for me as it is difficult.

My 5 year old hated the mouth part and he ended up touching the swab stick so we had to get a new one, and then the marshal said we were ok to just do the nose. Our 2 year old hated it but was fine after.

If I had to give some advice I would say do the youngest child first, I stupidly did myself and the 5 year old first so my 2 year old was already upset before we did it. And yes it's very hot and awkward, we have a big car too... but it's nice being contained in your own space, more comfortable than walking in.

They gave the initial instructions via phone, then I drove through I was able to drop the window a tiny bit and wear a mask. If we needed help (which we did) we put hazards on.

We accidentally went to the walk through first as it was so poorly signposted, I was really confused as I could have sworn we had booked a drive thru - we realised after about 5 mins we were in wrong place, but that was stressful. The queue was huge and people were not distancing on that side.

The weirdest thing is not being able to go out now, I know we had lockdown but actually not being able to pop out for anything is hard to get used to

OP posts:

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