People's plans to get tested just before Christmas...

[PatienceVirtue]

I've heard IRL and seen here lots of people planning to get the whole family tested just before the 25th in order to be able host/see elderly relatives.

But how would this work anyway? Like a friend was planning to go to Devon the day kids break up, isolate with nuclear family, get tested, then granny come to join them on the morning of the 25th. But how easy is to get a test in Devon? And doesn't it take a few days for the results to come?

And I suspect if I keep hearing this in people's plans, then lots of people are thinking the same. And I can't imagine there will be extra capacity at the testing centres on Christmas Eve. I've not had a standard issue test so I've no idea how easy/hard this is.

You can book private tests quite easily now, although it often has to be in advance.

The testing centres are for those who've got symptons, so no one should be using them for the purchase of Xmas celebrations.

It’ll be hilarious when all of those who have decided to do this can’t get tests because everyone else has decided to do the same. I can’t wait for the mass FB rants. It’ll be much less funny for those who genuinely need a test though.

I really hope no one uses the non private ones and lies to get one.

Imagine having symptoms over Christmas and not being able to get one because of this.

I can well believe that selfish people who only care about themselves will be planning to lie to get tests before Xmas.

I hadn't actually asked whether they were getting private ones or not. Do they come through the post or what?

But I agree it sounds a) rather dicey in terms of working and b) not the point of the testing centres.

Are private lateral flow tests available yet? They give a result within 30 mins and are easy enough to do yourself.

And I very much hope all these people, who inevitably will lie so they don't have to pay for the test:

A) take it early enough to make sure they get the result on time
B) take it late enough to allow the 14 days incubation period to ensure an accurate result
C) don't leave the house at all between taking the test and getting the result to ensure they aren't infected in the inbetween period from swab to result

Or of course they could just accept that this is a pandemic, that the virus is easily transmitted and change their plans for 1 single Xmas in their lives so as to not put people or themselves at risk.

We won’t all be lying. Some of us live in areas where mass testing is available for everyone.

Do they come through the post or what?

You can get some that do, but they’re generally not accepted to travel abroad or anything, so I’m not sure that they’re any good.

Otherwise it’s about £250 and you drive to a clinic for a ten minute appointment. £49 extra if you want a result within 48 hours. Result comes by email. I had to get one in the summer.

Everyone i know who have said they are planning this, they are planning on private ones, Boots are offering them around the country.

Not ideal, but a good idea for those who are definitely going to visit family for the 5 day window.

Private tests are same day results.

I think in principle this is an excellent idea and everybody who is planning to spend Christmas with another household should be offered a test. Private tests are available, but they are generally:
a) very expensive - over £100 per person
b) not suitable for younger children. The Boots one is for 13+; other private tests that I've seen have been for 18+
These two factors mean that the private tests are not really accessible for much of the population and I think this is why some people will be tempted to lie to get the free tests that are also suitable for children.
I think the Government really should offer free or heavily subsidised tests to all those who want them in the run-up to the state-sanctioned lifting of restrictions over Christmas. Yes, it would be expensive, but would help avoid the inevitable surge in cases in January, overwhelmed ITUs, unnecessary illness/deaths, a further lockdown...

"In the most comprehensive review of its kind of COVID-19 testing, researchers have examined all available test accuracy evidence for antibody tests published up to the end of April. By combining data from many studies they have shown that the tests are not accurate enough to confirm whether someone has the COVID-19 virus if used in the first two weeks after symptoms appear.

They found that tests are only likely to be useful in detecting previous SARS-CoV-2 infection if used at least 14 days after the onset of symptoms, but say that studies show that the tests will miss 1 in 10 cases of COVID-19.

However they caution over reliance on this figure, as the studies were small, poorly reported and done in select patient groups.

The researchers also fear accuracy will be lower when tests are used in the community, as the tests have mostly been evaluated in hospitalised patients – making it unclear whether they can detect lower antibody levels associated with milder and asymptomatic COVID-19 disease."

www.birminghamhealthpartners.co.uk/covid-19-antibody-tests-dont-work-if-used-at-the-wrong-time/

Well one advantage of tier 3 should be mass testing availability?

Private tests are available in many areas. The cost per person is between £100-£200 each.

An excellent idea to have a test if those taking them then get a negative result and then meet up with only with those in their circle (it is how some TV production companies are running i.e I'm a Celebrity/Strictly)

Some people can afford this. Many others cannot.

Given I'm in an atwa where we have all the crap of the tier 3 restrictions, if i can get the one tiny advantage of a test through the community mass testing I may opt to take it.
The caveat to this is that going for a test will probably bring me into contact with more people than I've seen since March, thus massively multiplying my chance of getting it...

I wanted to do this privately before we go to his parents for Xmas with our baby. They’ve been sensible through out but carried on life. I have been really strict. Partner refusing to ask them to test

Mass testing should be available in Tier 3 areas by then, but realistically that's unlikely to be the case for all Tier 3 areas. Expect another September scenario, where they failed to foresee the demand in tests when schools returned.

Private tests are same day results

Some are, but not all.

It is laughable the mass testing isn't it. Promising mass testing in tier 3 areas. Im surprised they didn't put more areas in tier 2 just knowing they will not reach the mass testing target in tier 3!

We are getting mass testing. So in theory, will be able to take advantage over Christmas. A teeny tiny silver lining of being 5th worst place in the country 🙈

Well that will slow the testing right down!

We are having tests I get through work

Well as long as people realise they may well come across an asymptomatic infection and risk not being able to go out at all for 14 days. Bearing in mind there still doesn't seem to be any evidence that asymptomatic cases transmit the virus, I would be dubious about the benefit of going looking for the virus. An acquaintance did this a while back, her dc was isolating due to a case in school. She decided she didn't want to wait out the 14 days so somehow acquired a test for asymptomatic DC. It came back positive. She tested the rest of the family twice and no one else in the household got it, that they are aware of. It felt like karma as she obviously shouldn't have been trying to cut the isolation period short.

As a midwife, I have long since learned that generally no good comes from going looking for problems when all appears ok.