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Twice weekly lateral flow tests for households of school pupils

305 replies

SingANewSongChickenTikka · 28/02/2021 08:45

This seems a brilliant step forward, twice weekly lateral flow tests for households and bubbles of school staff and school pupils. Posted or ‘click and collect’. Yes the lateral flow tests have their limitations, but it still should help I think.

www.gov.uk/guidance/rapid-lateral-flow-testing-for-households-and-bubbles-of-school-pupils-and-staff

OP posts:
Frazzled2207 · 03/03/2021 10:37

@DumplingsAndStew
Ok pleased to hear but is school saying you must do this? Absolutely nobody is going to tell me off I I don’t (I’m not being annoying am just wondering what value a negative ltf is from me to anyone)

covetingthepreciousthings · 03/03/2021 11:02

Just ordered ours, do you know if they will just be sent out on a repeat order each week? We've gone for home delivery as we don't have a car.

We got an email about return to school info yesterday and was surprised to see there was nothing about this mentioned, I know it's optional, but it does feel like it's the right thing to do & I'd have hoped school would have at least mentioned them being available for primary families.

Has anyone else's school mentioned them yet?

Frazzled2207 · 03/03/2021 11:22

@covetingthepreciousthings
no not a repeat order no but no problem in ordering more sets. it is suggested we test twice weekly not daily so should a while. Both of our sets have turned up the following day.

Our school have not mentioned either. I presume either they are not aware or don't think it's worth pushing.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 03/03/2021 11:35

My DS is just about to turn 11 (min age for these test). Should he be tested himself or just DH and I?

Arcadia · 03/03/2021 12:40

@GhoulWithADragonTattoo my DD is same age. I'm leaving it up to her and at the moment she doesn't want to but both myself and DP are (me through these kits and him through NHS).

kungfupannda · 03/03/2021 12:47

If the tests are going to be posted after online ordering, I think it might lead to mass resignations from our local postal workers. They're working way beyond their normal hours to try and get through the increased workload as it is, and our regular postman says he has to keep changing his route, as he never finishes the day's deliveries, and he doesn't want it to always be the same villages who don't get their post on time.

Frazzled2207 · 03/03/2021 12:48

@GhoulWithADragonTattoo

My DS is just about to turn 11 (min age for these test). Should he be tested himself or just DH and I?
If he's still at primary then no. Although if he's willing it makes arguably more sense to test the child than the parent.
Frazzled2207 · 03/03/2021 12:50

@kungfupannda

If the tests are going to be posted after online ordering, I think it might lead to mass resignations from our local postal workers. They're working way beyond their normal hours to try and get through the increased workload as it is, and our regular postman says he has to keep changing his route, as he never finishes the day's deliveries, and he doesn't want it to always be the same villages who don't get their post on time.
There will be increased numbers of tests boxes to be posted out yes .They don't get returned though.
PickAChew · 03/03/2021 13:00

They're not close to expiry. Ours was manufactured in January.

Frazzled2207 · 03/03/2021 13:55

I've just had an email to remind me what to do with them (they arrived yesterday)
It says quite clearly 'they should not be used on primary aged children'. That might be as as they are not licensed for use on them, doubt it would do them any harm. But if your child is 11 then it's a bit of a grey area as I believe they are recommended for ages 11+.

yomommasmomma · 03/03/2021 13:58

We received our first set of tests today and already had a go! V easy and what a fantastic system. My 6 year old didn't mind the test at all, used to it by now.

DumplingsAndStew · 03/03/2021 14:09

[quote Frazzled2207]@DumplingsAndStew
Ok pleased to hear but is school saying you must do this? Absolutely nobody is going to tell me off I I don’t (I’m not being annoying am just wondering what value a negative ltf is from me to anyone)[/quote]
Must do the tests? No.

Must report the results? Yes, I guess it's probably a condition of the tests being provided?

Why wouldn't you want to report the results?

Frazzled2207 · 03/03/2021 14:11

I probably will but I’m just saying I’m not sure the fact that I’ve tested negative is really going to be helpful anyone and I suspect many will not bother.

happymummy12345 · 03/03/2021 14:24

My husband would do it. If it was for primary school children I doubt my son would be happy and it would be a struggle. I absolutely will not.
Firstly I hardly go anywhere at all, even in normal times. I literally go to my sons school (previously his nursery), and to my nail and eyebrow appointment once a fortnight. That’s it.
In the first lockdown I didn’t go anywhere at all from when it started until July when my son went back to nursery. Then when it was allowed I went to my appointment. The second lockdown obviously schools stayed open so I had to go out. This third lockdown I haven’t been out since Christmas Day (which was to my dads house and we are in a support bubble anyway so agaIn no mixing happened). I will not go anywhere until I have to take my son to school, then go to my appointment. I literally have not left the house at all even once during either of the full lockdowns.

Also I don’t think schools should be back until after the Easter holidays anyway. And the amount of people who just don’t seem to care anymore. I don’t really see why I should.

Finally the whole test is triggering for me. I was raped at 16 and I still remember sitting in the clinic having tests and swabs taken from everywhere like it was yesterday (was nearly 12 years ago now). As soon as I saw it I knew how much I’d struggle if I had to. Obviously if it was law then I’d do it, but while it’s not compulsory I will not. If I had to self isolate it’s literally no different from what I’ve been doing so would be absolutely no problem at all for me.

covetingthepreciousthings · 03/03/2021 21:29

@Frazzled2207

I've just had an email to remind me what to do with them (they arrived yesterday) It says quite clearly 'they should not be used on primary aged children'. That might be as as they are not licensed for use on them, doubt it would do them any harm. But if your child is 11 then it's a bit of a grey area as I believe they are recommended for ages 11+.
Oh that's interesting, I assumed they could be despite not being compulsory.

I'd spoken to my 9yo DC about it and they agreed they wouldn't mind doing one before starting school, but now I'm not sure if we should?

PickAChew · 03/03/2021 21:36

I wonder if it has anything to do with the swab, itself. The one for the full test is a soft, spongy one but the lateral flow test swab is almost like a little bottle brush. It left my nose stinging, after using it.

Frazzled2207 · 03/03/2021 22:00

@covetingthepreciousthings
I've just done mine and it was surprisingly fine and relatively straightforward. Far stressful than the process at the pcr test centre! My kids are younger so am just doing me and my dh but if my kids were a bit older and willing I would.

Frazzled2207 · 03/03/2021 22:01

ps I found it far easier doing it myself. Have had someone to it to me before and was a lot worse.

BlackLambAndGreyFalcoln · 03/03/2021 22:10

Why do they say not to be used on primary aged children? Surely it would make the most sense to test the child (assuming they were willing to be tested of course) as well as the rest of the household? My friend's asymptomatic 4 year old recently tested positive on a LFT.

Whatelsecouldibecalled · 03/03/2021 22:24

Just had numbers through for my large ish secondary school found 1/3 of each year group have consented. Meaning 2/3 or around 750 pupils will not be tested....seems testing those that have utterly pointless

BungleandGeorge · 03/03/2021 23:46

@Whatelsecouldibecalled

Just had numbers through for my large ish secondary school found 1/3 of each year group have consented. Meaning 2/3 or around 750 pupils will not be tested....seems testing those that have utterly pointless
Have the other 2/3 withheld consent or just not replied yet though? It’s all quite last minute again (not schools fault).
covetingthepreciousthings · 04/03/2021 10:27

Why do they say not to be used on primary aged children?

We've just received ours this morning and I'm not sure if the previous poster who said they're not to be used on primary school children had read the instructions properly, as ours say they can but an adult has to do it which makes sense.

Frazzled2207 · 04/03/2021 10:36

@covetingthepreciousthings
I read them fine but I had a separate email from test and trace which said they should not be used on primary aged children. Agree it’s contradictory.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 04/03/2021 10:54

Thanks for confirmation Year 6 DS doesn’t need to be tested once he turns 11. I’ve ordered some test for DH which are coming today. DD is at secondary and she’s being tested at school tomorrow so makes sense for DH and I to do them say day. Thanks for this thread OP!

DumplingsAndStew · 04/03/2021 11:09

@GhoulWithADragonTattoo

Nobody needs to do it, regardless of age. It is 100% optional.

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