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Original poster

Can you buy lateral flow tests to use at home?

23 replies

Chardonnay73 · 13/02/2021 12:30

Just wondering if you can buy the lateral flow tests to use at home?
I’m an NHS frontline worker so have them twice weekly anyway but I’m on AL next week so won’t be testing.
My dad has to go into hospital for quite a major operation next week and I’ve got to take him in. I have had my first jab more than 3 weeks ago and so has he, but for extra peace of mind I’d like to do a lateral flow test the day I take and pick him up.
Obviously I can’t use the ones I have for work (each test has to be logged) so wanted to buy some to use privately.
Is this possible? If so does anyone have any recommendations as I want to buy good quality ones and not be ripped off.

OP posts:
Shieldingending · 13/02/2021 12:41

I don't think it is possible to buy them privately, do you live anywhere near an area where there is mass testing for asymptomatic people?

unmumsymummy21 · 13/02/2021 12:43

Hey ! I've bought them for home use. Just make sure they're government approved. It will tell you on the gov website which ones are.

fadingfast · 13/02/2021 13:09

Yes I bought some before Christmas from here:
www.medisave.co.uk/roche-sars-cov-2-rapid-anti-gen-test-kit.html

There are other websites too. Most of them say that they are for use under medical supervision only but I think that’s just to cover themselves.

HipTightOnions · 13/02/2021 13:13

for extra peace of mind I’d like to do a lateral flow test the day I take and pick him up.

My understanding of the LFTs is that they are useful for mass testing to flush out some otherwise undetected cases, but are not nearly sensitive enough to give reassurance that a negative result means you haven’t got it.

Shieldingending · 13/02/2021 13:17

@fadingfast

Yes I bought some before Christmas from here: www.medisave.co.uk/roche-sars-cov-2-rapid-anti-gen-test-kit.html

There are other websites too. Most of them say that they are for use under medical supervision only but I think that’s just to cover themselves.

Thank you, I hadn't realised that you could buy them
LynetteScavo · 13/02/2021 13:26

Wow, they're expensive- luckily I get them free from work and we have a rapid testing center in town.

MiJulee · 13/02/2021 13:39

Why can't you use the ones you use for work?

Original poster
Chardonnay73 · 13/02/2021 14:43

Thank you all for the links, I will have a look.
@MiJulee I’m on annual leave next week so theoretically don’t need to test and the work ones are for work use only, each one has to be accounted for, and as I’m not patient facing next week I therefore can’t use it.
@HipTightOnions I’m basing my assumption on their accuracy on the fact that my trust are happy for us to use them as a testing mechanism prior to seeing pts, so presumably they are effective?
I’ll also look into a walk in testing option but as he may be called any day the speed of the results with the lateral flow test seems more practical.

OP posts:
nex18 · 13/02/2021 15:03

We’ve not been told to stop testing if we’re on AL and full and part time staff test the same regardless of how many days patient facing.

Borderscotch · 13/02/2021 15:09

I do lateral flow tests for work, tested negative an hour before a PCR test that was positive...

HipTightOnions · 13/02/2021 15:14

I’m basing my assumption on their accuracy on the fact that my trust are happy for us to use them as a testing mechanism prior to seeing pts, so presumably they are effective?

They do seem to miss a lot of positive cases. They are better than no testing at all, which would presumably be the alternative.

www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4848

www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n287

pinkhappy · 13/02/2021 15:16

You definitely can. I have a friend who bought some they could use before visiting relatives over Christmas.

www.primarycaresupplies.co.uk/roche-sars-cov-2-rapid-antigen-test-x25/

www.medisave.co.uk/roche-sars-cov-2-rapid-anti-gen-test-kit.html

pinkhappy · 13/02/2021 15:22

@HipTightOnions

The accuracy of lateral flow tests is a difficult thing to measure. If you compare to PCR tests there are two situations where LTFs can give negative results were the PCR gives a positive result, one good and one bad. If someone had covid recently but is over it the PCR may give a positive result but you really want the negative resul LFT will give. So there LFT looks like it is missing something but that's actually good. On the other hand, if you are infectious but don't have any symptoms yet (presymptomatic) the LFT may also give a negative result. This is bad.

The upshot is that the figures you read don't distinguish between those two cases and LFTs are better than they suggest, but not perfect.

Borderscotch · 13/02/2021 15:31

pinkhappy hadn't considered it the other way round, that's interesting. Unfortunately in my case I now have symptoms so mine was unfortunately the lateral flow was incorrect

xHeartinacagex · 13/02/2021 15:34

Were you definitely told not to use them while you are on annual leave? At my work we are continuing to do them on the designated days even when we are off.

MiJulee · 13/02/2021 15:41

I have LFT's provided by work that I have to record the results for and still have to use them on AL?

HipTightOnions · 13/02/2021 15:43

The upshot is that the figures you read don't distinguish between those two cases and LFTs are better than they suggest, but not perfect.

Thanks, this makes sense. My concern though is that people are interpreting a negative LFT in the same way as they would a negative PCR.

Calyx72 · 13/02/2021 15:48

We have to do them on A/L too

Original poster
Chardonnay73 · 13/02/2021 17:26

I was told when I was given my box that they were only for use in a week when you were on shift... but I’m going to check that now 🤔
Will be considerably cheaper for me if they can be used!

OP posts:
musicalfrog · 13/02/2021 17:36

Yeh I've been told to keep testing on my week off.

UmbilicusProfundus · 13/02/2021 20:11

Agree with everyone else who has been advised to continue testing during annual leave. I accidentally buggered up one of my tests so it’s not been registered, but I am fairly confident I won’t be fired or anyone will really care!

AbstractDot · 14/02/2021 21:13

If your LFT happened to drop on the fluffy carpet right after you'd done it then it would have to be written off and replaced... If you need LFT for work then I'm more than happy for you to have the privilege of using them to help them in your personal life.

My area has mass asymptomatic testing which I'm hoping I can use to have a bbq or something with my parents when they're further along their vaccination process and it's allowed as last year I didn't really do any of the allowed stuff as it didn't mean the risk had gone, just tht I wasn't breaking the law

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