Would not have to isolate if positive

[Orangeblossom7777]

According to this study I am doing...

It takes 7-10 days for the result
Have no symptoms - study done React to test across the country
Advised not to isolate and continue as normal
Online it says the days from test if no symptoms

So if this test did come back positive and the 10 days over then that will be that. (am being careful with distancing as advised but not isolating)

What’s your issue with this?

You only wouldn’t have to isolate if positive because the ten days would already have passed.

You’re not isolating now because you don’t have symptoms.

Doing the test doesn’t mean you’re more likely to be positive than anyone else.

I'm just finding it a bit stressful. Yes it is fine by me. Got this email when i tried to chase up the result. It's been 3 days already

Hi Orangeblossom,

Thank you for your email.

The test result should be with you within 7 - 10 working days from the time your test is collected.

However, this timeframe can vary depending on how busy the laboratory processing your test is. Hopefully you should receive the test result soon, but we do not have direct access to the testing laboratories from this Helpline, so we are unable to give a more accurate estimate.

Once the results have been dispatched we are reliant upon the Royal Mail postal service to deliver them within the expected timeframe. Unfortunately, there may be a small delay, given the current circumstances. When the results have been processed you will get a same day notification (if you opted to receive this by email or text).

If you have not received your test results by 2/11 please let us know and we will escalate this to the relevant department for addressing. Please also provide your 8-digit Access Code and Postcode.

We appreciate your patience and kind co-operation.

Please let us know if there’s anything else we can help with.

Kind Regards,
Eileen.
Covid Test Study Helpline Team.

I suppose the way to think of it is if never asked to do the study would not know.

Stressful waiting for the test result?

You’ve done it for a study with no symptoms. If you hadn’t, you wouldn’t be changing anything about your life. Just carry on as normal. You don’t need to be extra careful because you’ve done this test.

It's just the time taken. Maybe should not have participated. Was just trying to help. Thanks

Speed in Processing tests needs to prioritise people who are high risk (occupational) or have symptoms. That makes sense, doesn't it?

I understand. I think it is just making me anxious. I'll be Ok when it has come through.

I think if you have no symptoms you carry on as you would if you hadn't done the test, the probability is you are going to recieve a negative test, you wouldn't be being more careful if you hadn't had the test would you? I get that it's frustrating but they need to prioritise tests, so those with symptoms, occupational tests and then research tests, there is only so much processing capability and as you wouldn't qualify for a test under any of the priority criteria your test will be processed (within whatever quality time lines are needed) and results processed as a lower priority.

It's also about family. DH self employed and DCs back at school Monday. Not sure how it works if comes back positive, would their 'time' start from my test or whatever.

Also it said on the leaflet the tests have to be done within 36 hrs or it doesn't work.

We are doing the ONS survey. If you have a positive test they said they would ring or text. If it’s negative we get a letter through the post and these are arriving 10-14 days after the test. I’m really not worried about it. If I’m not showing symptoms then I wouldn’t have got tested if I wasn’t doing the survey so I’m not in any different a situation than before.

Their time would start from your positive test date, because you had no symptoms, so the first day you knew you had it was the day of the test.

Thanks

You'll be contacted sooner if it's positive, if you get symptoms then isolate and otherwise continue as normal (with normal distancing etc). It makes sense that labs should prioritise those who need tests over research.

Ok thanks wasn't sure because of the email I was sent. So no news is good news, may be positive have not hear anything. Did test start of this week. been stressing over half term.

As MarcelineMississouri says, if (by a very small chance) the test was positive, they would contact you sooner.

You aren't being tested to see if you have C19, but as part of a much wider study to check the prevelance of C19 in wider population.

Most tests (even of those being tested because they have symptoms) come back negative - so the likelihood of someone in a general study being positive is incredibly small.

The idea is that if you are taking extra precautions, short of isolating, the potential opportunities for you infecting anyone else will be minimal and if you do get a positive test then the small number of times you might have been in danger of infecting someone should be a manageable number to be contacted and told to get themselves tested. I wouldn't do anything during these days that would create a situation where you might have infected someone but you have no idea who they were so they can't be contacted

Just had an email it was negative. Whew.