Testing for Christmas

[Orangeblossom7777]

So the students are being given tests to take before returning home for Christmas

Wonder if this could be a plan for families before visiting vulnerable or elderly relatives, given that they have been in school / work

You can get them privately I noticed, the lateral flow tests. About £50.

Thing is the students are having time to isolate etc but school terms do not finish until the 18th.

However they may not be that accurate. In the BMJ..

The government has claimed that rapid lateral flow covid-19 tests, which are being used in mass testing pilots in England and can provide results in 30 minutes, are “accurate and sensitive enough to be used in the community,” after evaluation results were published.1

However, experts warn that the tests may miss as many as half of covid-19 cases, depending on who is using them—making them unsuitable for a “test and release” strategy to enable people to leave lockdown or to allow students to go home from university.

www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4469

Another option could be the standard tests I suppose.

You can get them privately I noticed, the lateral flow tests. About £50

Where? Have you a link ?

Could we be confident they're reputable ?

they are doing them in a health shop near me

Customers can choose from two types of Covid test at the clinic: PCR testing or antigen testing.

PCR tests identify the virus’ DNA and are 98 per cent sensitive. A negative result from this kind of test is required before you can travel to some countries from the UK.

A PCR test result can take 48-72 hours, at a cost of £155.

Antigen tests identify the proteins produced by Covid-19 and are 92.5 per cent sensitive. This test could be used before visiting a vulnerable person, attending a meeting or event, or by sports teams, theatres, film studios and international schools.

The result of an antigen test takes 15 minutes and costs £55.

see www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/local-news/baths-first-private-covid-testing-4704445

Thanks Orangeblossom .That's so interesting .

I'm in London ,so guessing there must be similar here .Ant pointers anyone ?

oh ,just googled and of course loads of clinics are offering .Too expensive for me though .

This has already been announced as the plan for people to be able to see their loved ones in care homes and is confirmed in the Govt's official guidelines:

www.gov.uk/guidance/local-restriction-tiers-what-you-need-to-know

"Visits to care homes can take place with arrangements such as substantial screens, visiting pods, and window visits. Regular testing will be offered to up to 2 family members or friends per resident by Christmas, which – when combined with other infection-control measures such as PPE – will support indoor visits with physical contact. Detailed guidance will be published shortly."

Oops, sorry, I jumped to conclusions. You are obviously talking about the elderly who aren't in care homes.

Yes- so they are using them for students and people visiting care homes, but many will be visiting with children over Christmas so wondered about them as well

I know of someone who visited relatives and got tested via government testing but think that was when it was ok to do that in the summer perhaps- when it wasn't specific to symptoms

I envisage lots of people saying they have symptoms to get a test before Christmas

@shesellsseashells99

I envisage lots of people saying they have symptoms to get a test before Christmas

I think so too

My sister said she was going to do this. I’m not sure if it’s ok to do that or not really, though

@mrsknottschicken

My sister said she was going to do this. I’m not sure if it’s ok to do that or not really, though

Quoting myself! That came out a bit wrong. What I mean is that while I can understand why someone would do that, it doesn’t feel right when there were so many people struggling to get tests a while back and we’ve had it drummed into us not to get a test without symptoms.

Having said that, I really don’t think household mixing at Christmas can be safe unless people can be tested beforehand. So if there isn’t the capacity to do this then the government should not be relaxing the rules. IMO.

I predict lots of testing the weekend schools break up and days up to Christmas due to this

I’m planning this, I have spent £200 on a box of 25 lateral flow tests via work (I’m in healthcare). We will finish work/ school on 17th and isolate at home, then I will test us a few times before Christmas Day. Thinking test on Wednesday/ Thursday and Friday morning.
Obviously if Santa brings a positive Covid test that would be rubbish.

So selfish people with no symptoms will be getting tests and those with actual symptoms will be unable to get one?

Not surprised really.

Capacity for tests is very high now. The Govt announced 66 or 67 areas about a week ago where people can get tested if asymptomatic didn't they?

@LegoPandemic
I wonder if what you're doing would work for my family? My dh hasn't been able to live with us since schools went back, I'm a teacher and we have 3 dc, all at school/uni and dh is very very vulnerable to covid.
We break up on the 18th so not long enough for us all to self isolate so dh can come home for Christmas

@Stellaris22 not selfish if you pay for private tests rather than using NHS capacity. Using NHS capacity would be wrong.

@Littlefluffyclouds13 it might, if you can get hold of the tests. As I say I was able to buy them privately. The government is talking about rolling out daily tests rather than quarantine so I thought I’d do the same thing.

We will also limit contacts- I have one day at actual work that week so will otherwise be at home. DH is WFH. DS8 at school is the weak link, we’ll take him out a day early somiss Friday 18th. I have already done my Christmas shopping and have online slots booked.

Capacity may be high but doesn’t make taking a test when not needed ok to do

I’m really puzzled by this. If you pay privately you can have a test to go on holiday. Is that ok?

If you are a healthcare worker under the NHS the government is rolling out twice weekly tests. If you’re a private self employed healthcare worker your employer (ie you!) can buy tests via private medical supply companies to use as appropriate. Is that ok?

I don’t understand, wouldn’t the result of the test (if negative) be totally irrelevant as you could develop the virus days later. Isn’t that why a negative test doesn’t remove the need to isolate? Surely this would just provide inaccurate results and put your loved ones in danger for the sake of Christmas? Apologies if I am wrong it’s all very confusing!

I think that if they are testing students who are returning to family they could consider offering the cheaper flow tests to people travelling to older vulnerable relatives perhaps

Especially after they have encouraged people to do so, meeting in these 3 household bubbles.

Sandcastle I think that the idea would be to use the flow test on several successive days .

Of course as you point out ,this doesn't stop you developing it later .But no method is going to guarantee that you don't catch the virus ,not even a vaccination .I guess all one can do is narrow the odds .