Tips on getting a test

[MotherofPickles]

I'm trying to book a test for my DS5 who's woken up with a cough. There are currently no drive-through, walk-in nor home tests available.
Does anybody have any tips on how to get a test? What's the best time of day to look?

Keep refreshing and accept the first one you can get to. Try on multiple devices if you can. I got one at 9:45 this morning for this afternoon so perhaps that is a good time to try?? DH got offered one first...in Inverness. We are in Kent 😂

Oh and complain to your MP about the difficulties of getting testing.

I went fir dds fir something so difficult to get it really really busy. I got there early and was seen straight away. And I was told i could have another test if I did the first one wrong. Got told 12-48 hours fir results too. Can't be right given how busy and back logged they are meant to be?

Finally got a test, just kept refreshing and refreshing for about 4 hours straight. But this is my 4th day of trying. Seems there are some tests today, better (from rock bottom) than Tues or Weds.

But it's still a fiasco.

All my WhatsApp groups are full of the same problem getting a test for children with coughs and temperatures. And also headlice.

How could Serco and Deloitte eat al not have prepared for this as part of the drive to go back to school and workplaces?!

You can find places where test sites are or have been (they move around and might be only there for a day or two) on here: test-for-coronavirus.service.gov.uk/register-kit/

If you click start now and at a test centre and then enter your postcode, it will tell you the local site. You could then google them and see if they take walk ins and when they are actually at those sites.

I was told by 119 to try at 7pm as they release slots, tried that last night and got one straight away for this morning

We got a slot around 10am this morning for 4.30pm today, but others in our local area suggested 6.30 and 8pm as good times to check slot availability. I think it depends when the labs tell the government they have the capacity to test. There's more than enough test sites (ours today had 2 cars in it, including mine) but not enough lab space to test the samples before they expire.

Anyway, for what's it worth, my confirmation was checked at the test site, to make sure I'd booked for that exact site (Gloucester drive through) so I'm not convinced all drive through will accept a QR code for a test at another site.

6.30am

I’m still trying, but right now (0215) it says the website is currently very busy and to try again later. I can’t even get as far through the process as normal. How busy could it be at this time of the morning!

I’ve yet to be offered a test site within a hundred miles and we will be on day 4 of symptoms tomorrow so I think it’s looking unlikely.

@pontypridd

Put in an Aberdeen postcode.

That’s working for people round here. And we live in London.

That's agaist the rules. You are taking an appt away from some one in Aberdeen. It's wrong. Test centres should also cancel your test if you do this.

Seriously dont use post codes of areas you dont even live in. You are taking awsy somebody elses appt.

You're screwing with statistics and inappropriately charging a diffetent health board.

The govt are supposed to be closing the loophole on this. So if you try it your appt will be cancelled and you'll have to go home to book from your own area.

I managed to get a postal test for my DD (London, have a car) this morning at 8am this morning. 🤷‍♀️

Just after 8am this morning managed to order a home test (London). Had been trying since 5pm yesterday evening to get a test.

Managed to get a home test today as well. Been trying for 48h and due to the stupid post times we'll probably miss the window to test anyway. FFS.

Too late for me to get a home test. DD can go back to school on Tuesday on the 10 day rule anyway. Sigh.

Is it 10 days or 14? My school say 14?

99.9% sure my DD just has a cold but of course now she's coughing as well so she needs a test.

I started trying yesterday evening and refreshed every time I woke up during the night. This morning I had every device in the house logged in to the site and just kept refreshing every 5 minutes. Finally a whole load of test slots appeared at many test sites nearby, just after 10am.

Good luck everybody.

Ours came back positive within 36 hours.

Just tried on the Gov website, put in all DD’s details, then it just said to try again later.
DP just called the number on 119 and got straight through and got an appointment for 11am today!

Just done the test. I was surprised that we had to administer it to DD ourselves! No idea if I’ve done it correctly!

Ironically @IfIHadAHeart ,I'm in Bolton and we struggled getting a test here! There was a massive cockup at the town centre testing centre ,the other day ,some people getting double booked others not getting QR codes,we had to go to another town to be tested ,it was only a half an hour drive so not to bad .