dm has asked us if we could take a test before she comes to us for christmas day

[Skipsurvey]

i think it will
lull us into a false sense of security
cause a back log in the labs

and generally not be the best idea

Well, you would need to buy a private test if that is what she wants. This is not a proper use of NHS resources and using an NHS test for this purpose is fraud.

Unless you are strictly isolating for two weeks before the test and then after until Christmas, I don't think there's a point to it, really.

the government suggested students take tests to leave university and travel home

Suggest she pays for the tests! Is she looking for an excuse not to come?

she is worried @Caselgarcia

It's not a bad idea. They're about £100 I think but you get answers the next day. We've just decided to have Christmas in March after vaccines.

Are you a student then?
If not, you’ll need a private test

I don't think it's a bad idea if you're in one of the areas where rapid testing is being rolled out, like the Liverpool trial. They're supposed to be for picking up asymptomatic people and could help you out.

However, I wouldn't be going for one of the "normal" tests for the reasons you stated.

There are some areas introducing general community testing though aren’t there? Are you maybe in one of those areas OP?

no, March Christmas sounds like a great plan

no, but a relative abroad is doing the above scenario,

@PuppyMonkey
No area is introducing general community testing. Some areas may be introducing targeted testing for parts of the community with the highest rates but it's still not a case of a test who whoever demands one.

I thought it can easily end up a false negative if you test without symptoms.

It's just a few months to wait. It's just common sense to my parents and I to wait, regardless of what we're allowed.

Student testing is being organised by universities - most of them already have internal testing facilities set up, processed by their own labs.

But you can get a private test - more and more places seem to be doing them now. They're the same tests that people travelling abroad are being asked to take by a lot of countries.

@StatisticalSense oh right, I thought I’d heard it was going to be like the Liverpool tests expanded to other areas. Sorry must have made it all up.

i heard that too @PuppyMonkey

[quote StatisticalSense]@PuppyMonkey
No area is introducing general community testing. Some areas may be introducing targeted testing for parts of the community with the highest rates but it's still not a case of a test who whoever demands one.[/quote]
Yes they are.

www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Coronavirus/Testing/Book-a-test.aspx

In some areas in my county you can book without symptoms, in fact it is being encouraged. MIL had one earlier in the week after getting a flyer through her door.

If you or your mum feel there’s a risk enough to take a test then IMO you shouldn’t go at all.

A negative result at one particular point in time won’t give you a huge amount of comfort.

And I’m not someone who’s personally concerned but your mum obviously is.

[quote PuppyMonkey]@StatisticalSense oh right, I thought I’d heard it was going to be like the Liverpool tests expanded to other areas. Sorry must have made it all up.[/quote]
Some areas are in fact expanding to do this, check your local council website to see if includes yours.

The student testing was because the virus was spreading a lot between students and they usually share halls with lots of people (and even if students do stick to the rules, they can't control what the others are doing)

They needed 2 tests several days apart and both obviously needed to be negative.

Totally different to what you are suggesting.

Either pay or cancel. Don't take a resource away.
What if someone genuinely needed a test and couldn't get one?;

It depends on which type of test you use too. I believe the fast lateral flow tests can miss up to a quarter of cases, so while a positive means you would need to stay away a negative wouldn't guarantee anyone was completely safe. Unless you've isolated beforehand then a negative PCR from a couple of days before Christmas also doesn't guarantee that everyone is still negative on Christmas Day.
We're doing similar to a pp and having our family Christmas in the spring once vulnerable family have been vaccinated. I'm really sad about it but we know certain family members would be unlikely to survive if they caught it so it's the only sensible thing to do.

[quote StatisticalSense]@PuppyMonkey
No area is introducing general community testing. Some areas may be introducing targeted testing for parts of the community with the highest rates but it's still not a case of a test who whoever demands one.[/quote]
They have done exactly that here in Luton, I can go to one of two community centres in the town between now and the 23rd without an appointment and as a Luton resident can have a fast test done with results about an hour later.

actually i think they are testing 11 to 18 year olds arent they?

Thanks I thought I was going mad then dreaming stuff.