How long for results? And any tips on testing kids?

[MacOrMc]

Two kids, plus me, all started coughing yesterday and overnight. We managed to book tests tomorrow. DH panicking about work (as ever). Anybody had a test this week? How long did your results take? I know this will vary, but interested to see the best and worst case scenarios. No idea how close we are to a testing lab, we're in London if anybody has any knowledge.

Also, any tips on testing the kids? They're 5 and 7. I understand I'll have to do it myself. Is it simple? I'm not too squeamish, don't mind doing it, but any advice to make it easier?

Thanks in advance. We're not sick, I feel pretty OK, kids seem tired but fairly normal. Fingers crossed it's not covid, but best to know for sure.

DS Test yesterday. Results this morning. Negative. No symptoms. Temp slightly elevated but not fever. Cold. Throat. No cough. Bloody GP said we had to do it as DS couldn't smell (he had a blocked nose) and DS told her his apple tasted funny (it was old and bruised) if we wanted antibiotics for this very obvious throat infection. What a waste. What a plonked.

*plonker

Sorry re year yes he gagged. He's 10. He now states he has the worst gag reflex in the world. He managed to do it.

There is a NHS video on youtube on how to prepare kids for the test. I think it is important for them to know what to expect. I discovered the video after my DD had the test privately. It took 48 hours to get the results. It was not pleasant at all - my child was in tears.

DH tested yesterday morning 11am and positive result 1PM today. Bedford area

I meant negative. Negative result!!

There’s a whole advice section in the booklet in the home kit on testing children. Maybe someone’s posted a PDF online somewhere? It’s tricky but we managed an actual result for our one year old and we barely got anything from her tonsils. You can just do both nostrils instead at home, not sure re testing centres but maybe the same? that way is obviously easier. We got our test kits Fri am last week, posted in time for collection that day, they reached the lab sat am, results sun night. Good luck.

I was tested on Thursday and negative results today 48 hours later. I was asked by the Zoe app to test in spite of only reporting a sore throat.

Its a bit of a lottery with the results, my friend got theirs back after 2 days. (Positive too) I wonder if a positive result is relayed back to the person faster than negatives or non-conclusives.

The swab sticks are variable.
Some are just extra long cotton buds. They cAn easily get saturated with saliva. We got an ‘unclear’ result from that one.
Then we got a home test kit and the swab was different.. more like fabric. Although i felt i did a worse job of getting a swab, it came back negative.

Make sure you don’t saturate the swab with saliva.

DD1 who is 6 has been tested twice now because of coughs and negative both times. We've just swabbed both nostrils instead of the throat and the last time last week the guy at the test centre actually said just do both nostrils with kids. If you're doing drive through either have them in the front or adult in the back if you can otherwise you're climbing across seats as they won't let you out of the car.

It's not fun and we did have to hold her down a bit but it was over quick and she doesn't hold it against us!

Timelines for results first was down at 11am and results 6.30am next day and last week test at 9.30am and results at 6.30 same day. We're in Scotland - first test was just after the schools went back when every kid was getting tested!

Thanks for all your comments and advice. We'll rearrange the car seats for better access.

DH is now being unbearable. "We've all got colds." Probably, yes, but we're not Covid immune as far as I'm aware. "My manager won't be happy, and neither will yours." Happier than if we go to work and unknowingly spread it about though.

Tested Thursday at 14.45 and got the results yesterday at 15.45, negative thankfully, DD couldn't go to school Thursday and Friday.

We work from home so it didn't impact us much, testing kids... My friend went with bribes, you are meant to swab the back of the throat (tonsils, or where they were) wiping around for ten seconds, then the same swab up the nose wiping around for 15 seconds. My friend said they didn't do it for that amount of time and just did the best they could, bought him a MacDonalds drive thru on the way home, he's five.

We tested yesterday morning at 8am, results (negative) came through this afternoon.
If the kids have a strong gag reflex, get them to make a fist with the left hand but thumb inside fingers and squeeze While you’re swabbing the tonsils. If you can’t get the tonsils, then both nostrils is okay for under 11’s I think - I had to do that with mine. It was very tickly getting the swab in and she was not very happy about it at all, but absolutely fine afterwards. Bribery also helps!

Myself and DH (both essential workers)tested at a drive thru 5pm Wed , both results back by 10am Friday - mine were earlier @7ish.

@MacOrMc my DP was the same, it’s hard being the one enforcing doing the right thing but you are absolutely doing the right thing

DD(4) was quite impressed with the idea that the bogey doctor needed to check her bogeys and was surprisingly compliant. She let me swab her tonsils quickly (it’s easier if you’re higher than they are and their heads are right back with their mouths open) and the nostrils is just till you meet resistance then swivel the swab a bit. The nose did earn me an ‘oi’ but we got a definitive result.

Have you got anything to immediately bribe them with straight after? It’s also worth taking towels in case one of you does get a worse-case-scenario gag reflex.

I know I've done the right thing by booking the tests. He's still banging on about it just being a cold. He's probably right, but if we could tell what was just a cold and what wasn't without testing, this pandemic would be so much easier to deal with. Apparently we're wasting tests. But send the kids to school coughing like this, and they'd be home by lunchtime with the school demanding a test.

As for bribery, I have chocolate. And I'll pack a towel in case of overactive gag reflexes. And fingers crossed we're all back to normal by Tuesday.

We're done. Quite unpleasant for the kids, so hopefully won't have to do it again. One child's cough appears to have gone, but I now feel like crap. Fingers crossed for quick results. Guy at the test centre said 48 hours max, hope he's right.