Twice weekly lateral flow tests for households of school pupils

[SingANewSongChickenTikka]

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

@DayBath
Yep.
I think they've got a lot of tests to get rid of and want to be able to give parents reassurance if they want it. If it somehow stops some bubbles bursting though it's probably worth a shot.

I did order the box of 7 tests but there's no way I'll take them twice a week.

I'll put them in a cupboard just in case.

And there's no way I'm testing my kids twice weekly. Only if they had symptoms, or maybe if they'd been exposed. We got the link to order on Friday and it caused some consternation in my parents whatsapp groups, the guidance says no need to test primary children but lots of parents at my daughters' school assumed it was for all family members including newborn babies!

Great idea. Seems like it's only
Mumsnetters that do t want their kids to test. I do it twice weekly, it's not a big deal.

@ScarlettDarling
appreciate there is conflicting info flying around but the actual guidance says about the parent tests the below

This section does not apply to secondary school pupils, and primary and secondary school staff, who should take twice-weekly tests using home test kits provided by their school.

School have said they’ll give tests to students who have consented. Not sure how many though.

Hard to get an idea of how many are consenting overall

@KihoBebiluPute

This is brilliant news! I really hope people take this opportunity. Infection rates are very low and if any infections get picked up quickly we can keep it that way and won't have to have yet another lockdown!

I bet loads won't take them as some are still peddling the misinformation that they are rammed right up your nose to your brain and shoved right down your throat 🙄

We do these at work. Most people don't do them properly. People can't afford to take time off work. Seems a bit pointless now we all have been fully vaccinated.

I'd happily do one the morning of the Youth group I run. I'm sure all the other adults would as well. (When we reopen) Or if I wanted to visit my parents for example. I'm not sure about twice a week though.

[quote Frazzled2207]@ScarlettDarling
appreciate there is conflicting info flying around but the actual guidance says about the parent tests the below

This section does not apply to secondary school pupils, and primary and secondary school staff, who should take twice-weekly tests using home test kits provided by their school.[/quote]
Sorry to clarify further the section that does not apply is 'test for members of households'

@ILookAtTheFloor

I did order the box of 7 tests but there's no way I'll take them twice a week.

I'll put them in a cupboard just in case.

And there's no way I'm testing my kids twice weekly. Only if they had symptoms, or maybe if they'd been exposed. We got the link to order on Friday and it caused some consternation in my parents whatsapp groups, the guidance says no need to test primary children but lots of parents at my daughters' school assumed it was for all family members including newborn babies!

🙄🙄

So you've taken them as they're free, but have no plans to use them properly?

@ILookAtTheFloor

I did order the box of 7 tests but there's no way I'll take them twice a week.

I'll put them in a cupboard just in case.

And there's no way I'm testing my kids twice weekly. Only if they had symptoms, or maybe if they'd been exposed. We got the link to order on Friday and it caused some consternation in my parents whatsapp groups, the guidance says no need to test primary children but lots of parents at my daughters' school assumed it was for all family members including newborn babies!

Please don't use them if you have symptoms, they aren't sensitive enough to rule out Covid definitively. They are great for reducing (not eliminating) asymptomatic spread but shouldn't be used to replace a PCR test.

@teenagetantrums

We do these at work. Most people don't do them properly. People can't afford to take time off work. Seems a bit pointless now we all have been fully vaccinated.

If they're not done properly, do they not get a void result?

It's interesting....when my primary age Dd returned to school in January I made the decision to take us for weekly asymptomatic tests to cut risk. We did two weeks and when we turned up for 3rd they said she couldn't have it done as it's not tested for under 11's.

Wonder what's changed.....

Didn't think of storage issues to be honest.

I'm not expecting school to so everything, but making the tests easily accessible surely makes the take up greater.

I'd happily order online.

As a family who all ended up with covid over Christmas due to school exposure, I'd definitely be testing.

@ILookAtTheFloor

I did order the box of 7 tests but there's no way I'll take them twice a week.

I'll put them in a cupboard just in case.

And there's no way I'm testing my kids twice weekly. Only if they had symptoms, or maybe if they'd been exposed. We got the link to order on Friday and it caused some consternation in my parents whatsapp groups, the guidance says no need to test primary children but lots of parents at my daughters' school assumed it was for all family members including newborn babies!

Don't use them if your children have symptoms. They are far less effective than a proper test. There's a 25-30% chance they could be positive but the test will show as negative.

If they have symptoms, take them to a test centre for a PCR test.

i worry that it might give people a false sense of security which presumably is possibly happening with everyone getting these.
i.e i've tested negative this morning, so it will be fine for me to go and have a cup of tea with Aunty June etc.

On a broader point, with more of these tests flying around and also people being vaccinated, surely it's inevitable that everyone will relax a bit

@Toomanycats99

It's interesting....when my primary age Dd returned to school in January I made the decision to take us for weekly asymptomatic tests to cut risk. We did two weeks and when we turned up for 3rd they said she couldn't have it done as it's not tested for under 11's.

Wonder what's changed.....

nothing. they're still not recommended for under 11s. They want the parents to do them.

@ILookAtTheFloor

I did order the box of 7 tests but there's no way I'll take them twice a week.

I'll put them in a cupboard just in case.

And there's no way I'm testing my kids twice weekly. Only if they had symptoms, or maybe if they'd been exposed. We got the link to order on Friday and it caused some consternation in my parents whatsapp groups, the guidance says no need to test primary children but lots of parents at my daughters' school assumed it was for all family members including newborn babies!

These tests are no good if you have symptoms, they’re not sensitive enough. They’re only for asymptomatic testing. If you’re ill you need a proper PCR test.

[quote Frazzled2207]@MrsHerculePoirot
@KatherineOfGaunt

no. these are for parents of Primary aged kids. Obviously primary schools are much smaller. I don't think parents of secondary aged kids are being asked to do them.[/quote]
Okay, my local 3- form entry primary has over 600 pupils. Even if half of those wanted the tests, that's still storing the tests and then having time and staff to distribute them. At a time when parents aren't supposed to be coming into school.

They can be delivered to your door. I don't understand how that's not the easiest way?

@teenagetantrums

We do these at work. Most people don't do them properly. People can't afford to take time off work. Seems a bit pointless now we all have been fully vaccinated.

Just after reading this point, it made me wonder IF families do these weekly lateral flow tests.. if one of the adults tests positive do they then need to get a PCR test as well? How likely are false positives? Just thinking on the point of people taking time off work to then wait for a PCR test confirmation.

We've been taking my dd for asymptomatic testing once a fortnight as she's been going to school, my dh also goes and I treat through work. Having these tests for home use is great as we've been doing it anyway and now don't have to go out to do it

@ILookAtTheFloor when are you planning to use them?

@KatherineOfGaunt
yes i agree that is probably easiest. But I suspect the vast majority will not bother. If you were physically given them my school more would bother IMO. But I freely admit that schools probably don't want the extra hassle. I hope schools actively encourage by other means though.

@covetingthepreciousthings

Just after reading this point, it made me wonder IF families do these weekly lateral flow tests.. if one of the adults tests positive do they then need to get a PCR test as well? How likely are false positives? Just thinking on the point of people taking time off work to then wait for a PCR test confirmation.

Yes, any positive result needs reported then backed up with a PCR test.

@covetingthepreciousthings False positives aren't common, it's false negatives that could lull people into a false sense of security.