Lateral Flow test - child with two households.

[MuddleMoo]

If a child is part of a blended family and has two households do they both take the lateral Flow tests or just the one where the child spends most their time?

Its just the child eho takes them, not the whole family.

It's for households with school age children to tests themselves. Personally I would only test the second home when the child is there. So if child has 2 tests per week I would test primary residence+child Sunday night/Monday morning then if the child goes to other house midweek do the child+second household then.

Households with school age children are eligible for the LF tests so both could if they choose to.

Both our households are getting them as they're with mum during week and us (dad/step mum) weekends. I have no idea if mum's household will be doing them as she hasn't followed any rules so far and said she's 'not bothered about covid' sigh... but we will be for sure. I have primary age stepchildren and baby DDs so trying to keep everyone safe our end at least.

They are optional anyway, but I can't see why both households shouldn't take them if they want to.

It’s also for anyone in the childcare bubble so I think both households would be eligible if the child spends time in both regularly.

@MisgenderedSwan

It's for households with school age children to tests themselves. Personally I would only test the second home when the child is there. So if child has 2 tests per week I would test primary residence+child Sunday night/Monday morning then if the child goes to other house midweek do the child+second household then.

Thank you. Yes we were thinking of doing something like this.

Entirely your choice it’s all optional but any adults who have school age children in their house or they are joined with for a childcare or support bubble are entitled to the LFTs. As an aside, I went to pick ours up today and it could have been easier I literally drove up opened my passenger window and they through them on the front seat and I drove off again. No questions asked, no queuing etc. Simple!

Ah lovely thanks @Ibizababyy. Good to know.

Ideally both households would do the tests twice a week, as lateral flow tests will only usually show a positive when a high viral load is present so testing twice a week makes it more likely that an infection will be picked up. Both households qualify for testing. Remember though that the only result that means anything with a lateral flow test is a positive one. Negative only means that no virus was detected but doesn’t mean you’re definitely or even probably negative, as lateral flow tests are a lot less sensitive than PCR tests but they will pick up some asymptomatic infections that would otherwise be missed so are still well worth doing to help reduce spread and keep schools open. Just don’t take any reassurance from a negative lateral flow test.

We also collected some today and had the same experience as the above poster. It was super quick and easy with no queue, just dropped through the window with no questions asked.

Remember though that the only result that means anything with a lateral flow test is a positive one. Negative only means that no virus was detected but doesn’t mean you’re definitely or even probably negative, as lateral flow tests are a lot less sensitive than PCR tests but they will pick up some asymptomatic infections that would otherwise be missed so are still well worth doing to help reduce spread and keep schools open. Just don’t take any reassurance from a negative lateral flow test.

Well said, unfortunately it's NOT being said on any of the websites associated with the lateral flow tests provided to us via email from the school. If I didn't know better, I'd be inclined to assume based on the info we've been provided that a negative when I've got a slight cough and my kids have slightly snotty noses means I can send them in.

As WFH parents of primary age children (who get home deliveries and have no contact with other people) we're being told only to test us and not the kids. This seems so backwards - if we get a positive via them then they've already been asymptomatically spreading it around the school for a week or so.

Thank you @rainbowandstorms I did know that but agree it's not really being mentioned as much as it should. It's more an extra layer of defence and seems like a bit of luck if it catches an asymptomatic case. But we figured every little helps.

@MuddleMoo absolutely I’m really glad it’s been brought in as I’m very apprehensive about the return to school. It does worry me though that not enough is being said about a negative not meaning you’re negative. @IloveJKRowling I have the same worry.

My kids spend their time between two households. My eldest is secondary so will be getting tested. My husband and I aren't going to and my youngest won't as he is primary. Up to their dad what he does within his household.