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Original poster

How long is it taking to get test results back now?

66 replies

namechange63524 · 14/03/2021 22:57

DC had a temperature earlier and been off her food. I've booked a test for the morning, but last time (October), it took four days for the results to come through. I think it's a lot faster now. Any idea how long tests results are taking now?

OP posts:
Flidina · 19/03/2021 07:09

Took my daughter for a test at 11.30am, got test result, negative at midnight

Loveacheekysausage · 19/03/2021 07:09

I’m very muddled (and exhausted). Symptoms in the 16th, test 17th at 8.30am. So nearly 48 hours is right. It feels so much longer! Lol

MRex · 19/03/2021 07:11

Ha! Well, easily happens, especially with two. Do you still have the test card to call up?

Loveacheekysausage · 19/03/2021 07:27

@mrex. Yes I do. I’ll be giving them a call shortly - I wouldn’t mind but this his 7th one and they’ve all been returned in 24 hours, quickest was 12. 1 year olds just pick up all sorts and I feel terrible he has had so many tests!

albairlanda · 25/03/2021 00:55

@Loveacheekysausage I'm just wondering if you eventually got the results back and what the reason for delay was? Had son tested this morning as he had a temp 38.1 when he woke up. It did go down quite quickly, without calpol, but because he'd had cold symptoms I thought best to get a test. Much to my husbands dismay. Both children now off school and husband like a bear in a cage. He's really angry with me about being hasty as since this morning son has been absolutely fine and not hot at all and no cough. I'm fretting big time that our results are likely to get lost and not come back or come back void and lengthening whole isolation which husband feels I've brought on them all as should have just waited to see what came of it. I didn't fancy taking that risk and thought quicker the test, quicker the negative. He's so angry with me that both children are out of school again and is barely speaking to me and going around in an obvious huff. Just desperately want results back so can move on. This was supposed to be my week off to myself and time to myself has come to an abrupt halt today. I could cry about that as I'm pregnant and been home schooling and working full time for what feels like forever. Just wanted a stress free week off. Aware I sound self pitying. My main question is what to do if this result doesn't come back? If they are coming back for most within 24? What does it mean if they don't come back in that time? I'm wondering were they helpful to you when you called after 48 hours? So frustrating that son only had the temperature symptom for 5 minutes but I always try to do the right thing.

albairlanda · 25/03/2021 00:57

Also keen to know do results come to email on SMS. Says they'll text you on govt website but theres a lot of reference to email results in this thread.

Loveacheekysausage · 25/03/2021 01:11

@albairlanda hiya, the results came back around 11.30pm on the Saturday evening. I’d actually booked a further test on the Saturday morning as I had no confidence of getting the results before school on Monday. We went to a different place and had the results back within 21 hours.

You’ve done the right thing. Always best to get checked. It’s not easy having them at home when trying to work or getting some me time. Hope they’re back soon!

albairlanda · 25/03/2021 01:15

@Loveacheekysausage that's such a long delay you had to get them back! Do you think it was the centre's fault? Did you call like you said you were going to? I'm assuming they weren't helpful.

It hasn't even been 24 hours yet and I'm cross at myself for panicking but I just have a very bad feeling. I can't believe this has happened on my week off really. I'm so gutted.

MRex · 25/03/2021 05:43

@albairlanda

Also keen to know do results come to email on SMS. Says they'll text you on govt website but theres a lot of reference to email results in this thread.
We had one of each.
Loveacheekysausage · 25/03/2021 06:52

@albairlanda fingers crossed they come back today.

I’ve no idea why they took so long. I’m based in Manchester and the first test was done at the Ethihad, but like you I was getting nervous when it wasn’t back within 24 hours. Think all the others we have had done have been. When I booked for another test I choose a different location, which was fab! Really friendly, a child parking space away from people so you could get out of the car if necessary - this was in Eccles, part o Salford. Such a more comfortable experience. As we gave the tests over they said it’ll be back within 24-48 hours.

I understand that they’re using different labs and obviously they’ll have varying demands on any given day.

My partner said after our positive experience at Eccles “we’ve found it testing centre!” I mean, sad isn’t??!! I hope we don’t need to go back any time soon.

Loveacheekysausage · 25/03/2021 06:53

We received results by email and text. The first thing I did was to email them to school and nursery 🤣

albairlanda · 25/03/2021 06:57

Thanks everyone. I'm just in bits because my husband is so angry with me and I am starting to feel like I did do the wrong thing. Son is fine. Kids are missing school again, they are totally gutted. I've ruined my week off and now we are all stuck in! Husband not speaking to me. He only had a temperature for about 5 mins when he got up. It went down without calpol. Feel like an idiot trapping us like this.

Megan2018 · 25/03/2021 07:04

@albairlanda we got results by email and text but the email result came faster, the text was about 2hrs behind the email.

You did the right thing to test, your baby could have had the temperature all the time they were asleep-just because it went 5 mins after they woke it doesn’t mean they only had it for 5 mins. Although odds are they were just a bit warm and it wasn’t a fever.

ThePricklySheep · 25/03/2021 07:09

@albairlanda

Also keen to know do results come to email on SMS. Says they'll text you on govt website but theres a lot of reference to email results in this thread.
They come through both by email and text, if you give both. Sometimes at the same time, sometimes not.
albairlanda · 25/03/2021 07:10

@Megan2018 I didn't sleep well Tuesday night, never do being pregnant and checked on him every time I was going for a wee. He didn't feel hot. But felt hot in morning. I think 38.1 is hot but I'm really starting to question my self now they are stuck off school.

Poorlykitten · 25/03/2021 07:13

10 hours.

JemimaMoon · 28/03/2021 19:23

We did a home test that was collected this pm from a priority post box. Hoping to get the results some time tomorrow. 🤞🏼

UselessTrees · 29/03/2021 18:53

Currently stuck at home waiting for the result for a home test posted Saturday lunchtime. Poor DD had to miss another day of school today because of it. She was a bit warm and very snotty on Friday so I kept her off and ordered a test to be sure, thinking it would be back in plenty of time for this morning. So frustrating that most seem to come back so quickly and some randomly take ages!

albairlanda · 29/03/2021 19:04

@UselessTrees that's so annoying! That's over 48 hours now!!! In the end our result came through at lunchtime on the Thursday after doing a test at 10am Wednesday. I felt that wait in itself was torturous. You must be pulling your hair out. I was constantly refreshing emails whilst waiting and didn't sleep Wednesday night.

JemimaMoon · 29/03/2021 19:12

We popped ours in the letterbox at 3:15 yesterday. My gut feeling is it's just a cold and the wait is SO frustrating!

Frazzledd · 30/03/2021 00:57

Do we need a test? Dd1 has had a nasty cold (nursery said it's going round), she was poorly for 24 hours, better day 2 and now fine, but has a cough. Dd2 has had the same although her cold (very snotty) is lasting longer and now also a cough. No fevers, slightly raised temp on both but nothing high.

I've been feeling a bit blah for a week (since) dd1 was ill, but started coughing abit yesterday and now my whole body aches, I'm coughing and my chest feels like it's on fire-

If we need a test whats the best time do fir all of us (not had to do before?)

Frazzledd · 30/03/2021 00:59

(Last sentence was supposed to be 'whats the best 'thing' to do for all of us......)

UselessTrees · 30/03/2021 07:51

@Frazzledd I think if you've got coughs then you really should test.

Still waiting here! Have now booked a walk in appointment and DD and I will trek up there this morning in the hope of getting her back to school for at least one day this week. Wish I'd done that before but with no car and the nearest place a long walk away it didn't seem sensible when DD was feeling rough. That Panorama programme last night didn't inspire confidence in the whole process, either.

ATieLikeRichardGere · 01/07/2021 09:19

Any recent updates on test turnarounds? In Scotland especially?

AWafferthinmint · 03/07/2021 16:28

Had PCR on Thursday, result took 25 hours exactly. Unfortunately it was positive Sad

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