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Original poster

Time taken to get test results

271 replies

DragonLegs · 16/10/2020 08:04

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.

OP posts:
Tomliboosrule · 17/10/2020 23:04

86 hours and counting...starting to think they have lost it.

MangoM · 17/10/2020 23:12

It feels like this backlog with results is just getting worse with each day ...Hmm

Elizabeth110100 · 17/10/2020 23:14

I am waiting for a result for my daughter. She's been really poorly and I think it may be a chest infection but doctor won't see us until we have a covid result. It's really bad when you're suffering but at the mercy of the shit testing system.

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 17/10/2020 23:15

My household in the ONS study.

Test weekly.
Apparently they will ring if positive but we are on week two and have and no results so assume no news is good news??

musicalfrog · 17/10/2020 23:16

It might not be the backlog to blame. Some results just go missing and there's nothing you (or they) can do about it.

Dickorydockwhatthe · 17/10/2020 23:35

@musicalfrog

It might not be the backlog to blame. Some results just go missing and there's nothing you (or they) can do about it.
Exactly and it doesn't help that you cannot track the results or the fact they are not testing in date order!! Are they just tipped into one massive container and picked out at random? 🤔 It isn't good enough. How can some one have test 2 days later then someone else at the same testing station and their results someone who tested before them? It's a shambles.
WeeM · 17/10/2020 23:44

I had no idea there was such a delay with test results. I had to take a test and from my onset of symptoms to getting results was not much more than 24 hours! I’m in Scotland.

Tomliboosrule · 18/10/2020 00:05

Just got a negative result after 87 hours wait.

Moomin37 · 18/10/2020 03:38

Still waiting here after a drive through test on Thursday morning (66 hours ago). So bloody fed up. I know someone who had a test at the same site 24 hours before and they received their results in 48 hours.

Pepperama · 18/10/2020 05:34

Negative - 38 hours, arrived by email first. Tier 2 area

kittlesticks · 18/10/2020 06:43

66 hours now. Nothing. SE. Raging now. No wonder the spread is so bad.

kittlesticks · 18/10/2020 06:46

@Moomin37 heard anything yet? I'm in Surrey

Moomin37 · 18/10/2020 06:56

@kittlesticks Nothing and I'm fuming. Are we supposed to waste another day bored in the house? I did ring 119 yesterday but it didn't get me anywhere. Hope yours arrives soon.

RiseUpWoman · 18/10/2020 07:21

96 hours for us.

FiveMoreMinutesPlease · 18/10/2020 07:32

@mumsiedarlingrevolta

My household in the ONS study.

Test weekly.
Apparently they will ring if positive but we are on week two and have and no results so assume no news is good news??

We've just started the ONS study and yesterday received week one's negative result through the post so they seem to take two weeks to post it out. As an aside we have received a call yet to have week 3 swab - should have been yesterday. I wonder if they are over loaded too.
FiveMoreMinutesPlease · 18/10/2020 07:34

Should read we haven't received a call.

foxysocks · 18/10/2020 07:35

120 hours and nothing. It’s an absolute JOKE. We will never get tested again and neither will our friends after hearing what has happened to us.

Well done govt slow hand clap you had the good will of so many and you’ve lost it through incompetence

RiseUpWoman · 18/10/2020 07:37

@foxysocks

120 hours and nothing. It’s an absolute JOKE. We will never get tested again and neither will our friends after hearing what has happened to us.

Well done govt slow hand clap you had the good will of so many and you’ve lost it through incompetence

Completely agree! I keep thinking if it is positive I need to let the school I work in know so children/staff can isolate Absolutely fuming.
Incacat2 · 18/10/2020 07:38

My daughter and I got tested alt the same time on a Saturday morning. Her test was back by Sunday evening. My test came back on the Tuesday.

AHippoNamedBooBooButt · 18/10/2020 07:45

I think its sensible to always get tested when showing any symptoms but unless you are really poorly, I wouldn't officially isolate. I'd just say its a cold, get tested, then wait for result. If negative (most likely) carry on as normal but only go into isolation if a positive test came back.
1 have 4 dc, 1 is under 5yrs so I don't want them to constantly have to take time off school for a mild fever (which is quite common in the youngest as still building up immunity).

kittlesticks · 18/10/2020 08:08

I rang the testing number and they took some details - he said the test was in the system but can only be chased after 5 days Sad

foxysocks · 18/10/2020 08:19

That’s not the advice though. If everyone does that it will spread exponentially.

Those of us who have tried to do the right thing are being punished, economically and emotionally. All this does is push more people into bending rules and lo, infection rates rise.

foxysocks · 18/10/2020 08:19

That was supposed to reply to hippo

kittlesticks · 18/10/2020 08:23

@Moomin37 it completely sucks doesn't it! Trying to do the right thing but also we have a 1 and 3 year old.
If DS has a positive result then based on when he got this bug we would all have to isolate until Friday anyway - at this rate we might not have the results til then!

musicalfrog · 18/10/2020 08:29

@foxysocks

That’s not the advice though. If everyone does that it will spread exponentially.

Those of us who have tried to do the right thing are being punished, economically and emotionally. All this does is push more people into bending rules and lo, infection rates rise.

But it will spread exponentially if positive results aren't being fed back quickly too. You can see both sides, surely?
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