Time taken to get test results

[DragonLegs]

I’m really annoyed it takes so long! Surely the government should have this sorted by now. The whole family is on day 3 off school and work. My sons cough was borderline in my opinion. I’m wishing I hadn’t bothered getting him tested so we weren’t in this position! We’ve been tested before and had results in under 12 hrs, so it is possible.

I can’t be the only one thinking like this, surely the delay in getting results is going to put some people off being tested at all.

Finally! Just got out negative result.

We requested the home test Monday, received and sent back Tuesday, they received it Wednesday.

So it's taken about 60 hours since they received it on Wednesday morning.

Where abouts do you live @MangoM ? Just trying to work out when I’ll receive mine!

We had a drive through test Tuesday afternoon. Still waiting.

Ours came through in 38 hours. Tested Wednesday evening and got the results this morning.

We had ours at a drive through Monday morning still waiting for one of the results. We are not allowed back to work or school until results come back even though we are all fine!

*Dickorydockwhatthe" Monday!!?? Don't tell me this! I am desoerately hoping that I will get the text overnight. I thought 72 hrs was the absolute cut off point!

@cathyandclare

Absolutely Sunshine I've been waiting 3 days, for a test through ZOE. In the spring and summer I was really impressed with the service, I got results in less than 24 hours. Now it's just too long.

In my opinion, we'd be better off using rapid-antigen testing in some settings, even if it is slightly less accurate. I also think a shorter quarantine could ensure better compliance and consequently improve results overall, even if a small number of people are still infectious.

Why would we want to use a less accurate test?

Th results are taking so long as the govt outsourced. Some some tests are being sent to Italy and Germany. Areas with high cases are also prioritised.

Quarantine cant be changed. Its know there's soread through ppl not quarantining and ppl not self isolating.

What we need is better guidelines from public health to stop the thousands of tests wasted on kids with colds.

France have reduced their quarantine period to 7 days. It doesn't matter what your quarantine period is if no-one is doing it and the longer you make it the less compliance you get. Better for 75% of people to quarantine for a week than 25% of people to quarantine for two.

There are some quite good arguments for using the less accurate, rapid tests. Not in all circumstances but in some. I think this article is really interesting and gives a good explanation of why they should be considered.

www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/09/k-overlooked-variable-driving-pandemic/616548/

No results overnight for us so looking like DS1 will miss swimming this morning. So annoyed with this now. None of the rest of us have ever had any symptoms so as long as we get a negative for DS2 that will do us. Nearly at the 48 hour mark now.

Tested thurs 9.30 am in south east and just had result (negative) emailed at 6am. So 45hrs.

Last week my DD was tested at 4pm on Saturday (3rd) and we got the (positive ) result at 2pm on Tuesday so 70 hours ish. And that was way too long and incredibly stressful. And that also meant that her class was still in school for two days potentially spreading the virus while we waited for her results.
Completely agree with pp who said that it would make me think twice about getting tested again. And so many people I've (remotely) spoken to have said the same.
Oh, UK track and trace contacted me on the Friday - nearly a week after her test.

Ours just turned up! Negative!

@JessieEssex

That sounds incredibly stressful and yes, as you say, people are much more likely to gloss over any borderline symptoms if tests are hard work to get and then force you to self isolate (unnecessarily for many) for long periods prior to the results. I'd have said DS2's symptoms were definitely borderline.

How is your DD? I hope she is on the mend.

@Sunshinegirl82 she's fine thanks, she came out of isolation on Tuesday but the rest of us are only 'free' as of today! She had a headache and temperature for a few days but nothing else

I am Edinburgh and got my results in 14 hours (unfortunately a positive result), so we are all now self isolating. In August it took 3 days to get a result back so at least timelines have improved here just now.

It is very frustrating waiting though!

Got ours in the middle of the night. Also negative, thankfully. Can now leave the house today and go to Morrisons . Am quite excited by this. I was mostly okay staying home during lockdown but the time seems to drag more knowing everyone else is still going about their business.
If Wales does go into lockdown totally next week at least I'll have been allowed to prep this weekend.

@Chickenandegg8

My mum is part of the ONS study, she had her test last Thursday, results came back on Wednesday so six days. It was positive. She had no symptoms so wasn’t isolating. And they wonder why it’s spreading....

You know I can't help wondering if it's all just pot luck and the testing system is even worse than we all thought! Nothing would surprise me at this point.

Tested Wednesday morning and still waiting. So fed up as we’ve got lots of plans this weekend that are slowly being cancelled one by one. Will definitely think twice before testing in future.

@FiveMoreMinutesPlease that gives me some home as it's been 41 hours for us 😬

Got ours overnight on email 54 hours after test.
Not received a text this time though

My daughter was tested yesterday morning. I was really hoping she'd get her result before Monday so we could go back to school and work but after reading these, I'm not sure now.
Last time we tested on June, results took 30 hours.
If waiting times are this long then it's going to put a lot of people off testing. Plus, all the contacts from a potentially positive person are all still out and about spreading germs.

DS (only one with mild symptoms-a temp only) tested 630 weds eve at a drive through and still waiting... lucky that we are wfh anyway but DD is year 11 so desperate to be back to school on Monday. Interesting to see such varied response times!

Oh and he’s fine now!

I'm still waiting 120 hours later. I've been off work and ds school for 5 days. How do I complain is there someone more senior at 119? Do I have to show my results to school/work as I want to go back Monday whether these results come back or not? I've emailed my MPs. Still waiting. So frustrating. I need to complain can I speak to someone more senior at 119?

Omg @Dickorydockwhatthe I'm so sorry what a nightmare. We have been waiting 43 hours now and I thought that was a long time