Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Anyone doing regular lateral flow testing?

69 replies

MistleTOEboughski · 27/01/2021 17:21

How do you find it? We've just been offered this at work. To be honest it sounds like a massive faff to go through twice a week and I am not keen on the swabbing. Is it worth it?

OP posts:
Fizzybottle · 27/01/2021 17:23

No. They're less than 50% accurate.

Motorina · 27/01/2021 17:23

It's about 30 seconds actual work once you've done the first one and worked out what you're doing (and then 30 minutes ignoring the test whilst it develops). In return, it reduces the chance of me spreading the disease asymptomatically to those I love.

No-brainer to me.

Watsername · 27/01/2021 17:24

We have started this week too. I did the first one on Monday evening and will do the second tomorrow morning. Taking the test was absolutely fine, but recording the results was a bit of a faff. I think I will get quicker at it though.

I think it's worth the effort.

ihearttc · 27/01/2021 17:24

Yes I am (I’m a TA).

Watsername · 27/01/2021 17:25

@Fizzybottle

No. They're less than 50% accurate.
But, finding 50% of cases is better than finding none of them.....
Reinventinganna · 27/01/2021 17:26

Yes, not really a faff at all. It’s quick and easy. We’ve been doing it for a while now.

Eaumyword · 27/01/2021 17:26

Yes, School Sec and in school working. It's not pleasant, but very easy to do and like the pp, will hopefully weed out asymptomatic spread. I know they aren't very accurate, but it feels safer for my family than just currently wondering if I have it or not.
I'm happy to do it.

PurpleDaisies · 27/01/2021 17:26

@Fizzybottle

No. They're less than 50% accurate.
But 50% of positive people with no symptoms find out that they’re positive and can isolate.

I don’t understand what the downside of getting this test is. Is it really that much faff?

Saucery · 27/01/2021 17:27

Just started it and it’s not a massive faff after the first one, because you know what you are doing and which bits go where.
Could do with an individual log in to the results site at gov.uk, because you have to input the same details every time.
I’m under no illusions about the accuracy and if I had any symptoms I wouldn’t rely on it and I’d go for a PCR test instead, but it’s not an onerous task to undertake twice a week so I thought I might as well do it on the offchance that it picks something up if I am asymptomatic.

HighwayCat · 27/01/2021 17:28

I’ve been doing it for a couple of months. It’s not a big hassle once you’ve learnt what to do and although it’s got a high false negative rate it’s better than nothing. I’d be happy to carry on when I run out of the ones I’ve been given so far.

lonelyplanet · 27/01/2021 17:33

@Reinventinganna

Yes, not really a faff at all. It’s quick and easy. We’ve been doing it for a while now.
Filling all the information in on the nhs site whether negative or positive is a faff. It doesn't even allow you to scan the qr code, so I have to type the bar code number twice for every test, not to mention all the other information. This evening it wouldn't accept that my email matched and I had to try 5 times.
VashtaNerada · 27/01/2021 17:34

Glad to hear it’s not a hassle once you’ve done a few, I start doing them this week as well (teacher) and it sounds really faffy when you read the instructions.

VashtaNerada · 27/01/2021 17:34

I spoke too soon @lonelyplanet Grin

PregnantGotCovid · 27/01/2021 17:35

@Fizzybottle

No. They're less than 50% accurate.
That's incorrect. They are 99% accurate for positive tests. So the vast majority of positive tests are accurate. There is a higher level of false negatives, around 25%.

I got a positive lateral flow test before I got any symptoms. So I started self isolating. It wasn't until several days later that I got any obvious symptoms. So if I hadn't had the lateral flow test, I could have been infecting my colleagues and patients unknowingly.

The test only takes a couple of minutes once you get the hang of it. (But you need to allow half an hour for the result.)

ExhaustedPigeon · 27/01/2021 17:37

I started this week. Its not the nicest and putting it on the website is faffy but I think it's worth it. Any cases that it picks up is helping everyone else.

Original poster
MistleTOEboughski · 27/01/2021 17:38

I'm a bit concerned about getting a false positive and not getting paid, would the whole family have to SI?

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 27/01/2021 17:39

@MistleTOEboughski

I'm a bit concerned about getting a false positive and not getting paid, would the whole family have to SI?
False positives on lateral flow tests are very unusual. It’s false negatives that are common.
snowone · 27/01/2021 17:39

Twice weekly at work - I'm a teacher

Wishitsnows · 27/01/2021 17:41

If you want 100% accuracy in China they do an anal swabs now! No idea how that works through the car window at testing stations.

donerwillbehere · 27/01/2021 17:41

Will the pupils be getting tested ?

PurpleDaisies · 27/01/2021 17:42

@Wishitsnows

If you want 100% accuracy in China they do an anal swabs now! No idea how that works through the car window at testing stations.
That’s a moon shot test!
Londonnight · 27/01/2021 17:43

Twice a week -- support staff in a school

Original poster
MistleTOEboughski · 27/01/2021 17:43

If you want 100% accuracy in China they do an anal swabs now! No idea how that works through the car window at testing stations.
😂😂😂 I guess this shows it could be worse.

OP posts:
Talisin · 27/01/2021 17:43

Yes. Granted, filling out the online form each time is a minor faff but it’s only 4 mins or so, the test itself is quick and then you just wait for the results. Whole process (minus getting results) maybe 8 mins or less.

Eaumyword · 27/01/2021 17:43

@Wishitsnows

If you want 100% accuracy in China they do an anal swabs now! No idea how that works through the car window at testing stations.
Omg! Don't fancy that twice a week!Shock
Swipe left for the next trending thread