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

@Ihatemyseleffordoingthis

It's ridiculous that we have been so massively conditioned by austerity to think that we "shouldn't waste precious resources" by having a test that might mean we choose not to mix with and thus infect vulnerable people.

But this isn't austerity, this is genuine situation where there isn't infinite capacity to process PCR tests.

Why don't you think they should be prioritised for those with symptoms?

Why don't you think they should be prioritised for those with symptoms?

Because if the government are putting us at risk by not making schools safe they can pay for my test to see family.

Testing is really only 'good' if it's done at the right time(s) and if you isolate afterwards until you see the person you are trying to protect.

I'm in the US, so this may be totally irrelevant.

DS1 and DiL were exposed TWICE in November! They'd just gotten the 'good to go' from the 1st exposure and then two days later her mother exposed them knowing that she was positive (cuz it's no big deal doncha know). Both times they were told that they needed to isolate and test at day 10. If the result was negative and they were still asymptomatic they were good to go.

For your mother to be 'safe', you'd have to go into isolation at least 10 days before you are due to see her, get tested, wait for the negative results, but then continue to isolate until the day you see her.

Of course, there are the 'instant read' tests that give you results in IIRC 15 minutes or thereabouts if you're seeing the person that same day. But I expect they're hugely expensive. Plus that was what they were using at the White House and we all know how that turned out.

She will have to test as well

How many in the email? How much will kit cost?

TBH I would tell her to stay at home

If you test position with a LFT it's almost definitely a positive.

If you test negative with a LFT you have a 50:50 chance of being positive.

They are great for identifying people who need to isolate in a community. I'm not sure they are that good for deciding who should be at your Xmas table.

I went on the NHS site and requested a test as I was collecting my daughter from hospital following major surgery. I said I didn't have symptoms but might expose a vulnerable person without a test. It went through and I had a 'drive through' test two hours later.

It might be worth you working through the NHS questionnaire to see if you qualify for this free test?

however, she is not likely to qualify for the same and absolutely should be tested before coming to you.

So the 'burden of proof, so to speak, rests with her

Not a bad idea.....but I’d ask her to get one too! Covid can be so random, sometimes hard to predict who can become extremely ill with it.

@arethereanyleftatall

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.

100-149 and also not necessarily the next day. Private GP I went to for something else said that the NHS ones were coming back quicker and at the moment private ones took 3-4 days

Why is she coming to you, it's not compulsory and just because you can doesnt mean you should.

It will just me and DH at Christmas, wont be doing the usual visits. It has been postponed and may take place in March, vaccinations permitting. There may be a socially distanced walk or two if the weather is kind but the one most likely to happen will be with someone also postponing their usual Christmas.

No the lft give false positives too

On the Liverpool testing site it says all lft positive tests have to be confirmed with pcr

I know 3 who tested positive on lft then negative on pcr

liverpool.gov.uk/communities-and-safety/emergency-planning/coronavirus/how-to-get-tested/symptom-free-testing/

Private test if she wants it or do what we are doing which is not seeing anyone.

You can be contagious 48 hours before symptoms & test negative. Taking a test in this situation is meaningless and I’m quite concerned that many people will be doing this in the run up to Christmas, meaning there’ll be a massive back log and a lot of unnecessary work for the lab staff over Christmas who are already working very hard and it will give people a false sense of security.

If she’s worried she should just not come. You’ll all probably be stressed abs worried anyway:

In-laws aren’t seeing us and are being careful which is fine with us. My parents are happy to take the risk and want to come and see us.

@Ginogineli thanks for the link - I hadn't seen the false positives numbers recently (I heard they were 99% correct) but I also heard a report on how it varies a lot on the person administrating the test I did know they confirm positives with the PCR test so the positives from the two tests combined are the real deal. I'm just convinced that the negatives are real negatives and that the general public hasn't got their heads around it

@arethereanyleftatall

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.

What makes you think there will be anyone vaccinated by March? Isnt it 18months at least for a mass roll out?

DF is over 80 and ECV, his hospital is a major centre and is vaccinating and he has been told that he is months down the list unless he needs surgery.

Vulnerable are expected to be done my March with most by autumn next year

My local council are offering testing for those even without symptoms.
Not a bad idea, but, I have said that if you come to ours for Christmas dinner, you take that risk and I am not responsible.
If she’s worried, she shouldn’t attend and stay at home.

@Ginogineli

Vulnerable are expected to be done my March with most by autumn next year

Based on what information? There isnt that much vaccine available.

400,000 doses are available- anything else is speculation

From the BBC

Together, care home residents, their carers and the over-80s make up an estimated 4.5 million people, while frontline NHS staff make up a further 1.6 million.

NHS England has said the bulk of the vaccination programme for "at-risk" people will take place from the beginning of 2021 through to March and April.

So maybe 4.5 million by April- what about the other 55 million?

It’s worrying people will take a negative test a day or two prior to Christmas as gospel. It could be a false negative or you could be incubating covid to come out with symptoms two days later. Such a false sense or security at a vulnerable time.

I’m taking the lateral flow 30 min tests twice weekly with work ( NHS) I’m not convinced on accuracy tbh and would not use it to be confirmation I could be close to anyone vulnerable

@Foliageeverywhere122

But this isn't austerity, this is genuine situation where there isn't infinite capacity to process PCR tests.

Why don't you think they should be prioritised for those with symptoms?

Your post illustrates my point entirely. There is a shortage because our crap excuse for a government didn't cotton on to how their pals could monetise the situation quick enough decided not to invest in enough.

There is currently mass testing in my area (NW).

Denmark has had on request asymptomatic testing since September. We are a rich country, we could afford to produce what we need.

@Ihatemyseleffordoingthis

Yes the government is shockingly incompetent for allowing this to happen but that doesn’t change my original point, there isn’t infinite capacity to process PCR tests. Why don’t you think they should be prioritised for those with symptoms?

Yup the situation was totally avoidable and we shouldn’t be here, but government incompetence doesn’t mean you should take a test from someone who who is more likely to be positive..

Testing is very different across the country. Where are you?

We could have one every day here (NW)
I haven’t heard anything recently about test shortages. Just go to the HMRC website and see what local availability is.

@Foliageeverywhere122.

The government decided, over years, that they would systematically underfund public services.I didn't say whether the OP should or shouldn't take a test. I merely commented on the fact that we have been conditioned to believe that this is merely incidental and due to incompetence, rather than a matter of policy and the onus is on her not to use unnecessarily scarce resources.

@Ihatemyseleffordoingthis

It's ridiculous that we have been so massively conditioned by austerity to think that we "shouldn't waste precious resources" by having a test that might mean we choose not to mix with and thus infect vulnerable people.

The reason you shouldn't waste the NHS test is that it will delay people who actually have symptoms in getting a test and results. This will impact on things like nurseries (who will be open all 'normal' days) and is folk who will need to work over Christmas.