Doing the test is vile so no wonder LFTs have such a high inaccuracy rate.

[worktrip]

Got handed a box of tests in town yesterday and have just attempted to do the test. I was gagging at the tonsil one and could no way get over 2cm into my nose let alone twist 10 times. I tried but seriously found it impossible/difficult.

Waiting the result (I feel fine) but really wondering does it get better or is there a trick to it?

I'll do it again in a few days as I was in close proximity to around 100 kids on a school trip (indoors) yesterday. Not looking forward to it. ☹️

It's because those parts of the body don't normal get touched. The more you do the tests, the easier it gets. I do them daily, have zero gag reflex and no longer get any tears or nasty tickly sensation from the nose test. The other day I did my test in the nostril I don't normally use and it reminded me how awful the tests felt the first few times I did them, as it wasn't used to it.

It gets better, and quite quickly. I couldn't do them without gagging initially but hardly registers now

I couldn't do my throat because I was gagging & couldn't see in the mirror to even check I was in the right place. Squeamish DH wouldn't do it to me either!

That's reassuring. The back of my nose is really stinging. Negative so far.

I just do both nostrils instead of throat / nose.

They do get easier to do. Still can have an awful gag reflux, so much so always try and do the test when DH isn’t on a zoom meeting as he can hear me across the house!

They get much easier the more you do. I hated the first one I did and kept gagging as soon as I put the swab in let alone touched my tonsils. I've now done over 50 LFTs and do them without thinking.

Tip your head back to do the throat swab, it's much easier to get to your tonsils that way whilst avoiding your checks, tongue etc.

It's really not that bad

Most medical tests are unpleasant when you have to conduct them on yourself. The time seems to pass slower!

At least the recovery time is next to nothing - I feel back to normal within 30 seconds of the test. I can always psych myself up to do it as I know it is such short term discomfort that it is barely worth worrying about.

My work has been asking us to do them twice a week for about a year now. It really does get easy and normal fast. A bit like learning how to put in and remove contact lenses often feels horrendous at first and is very soon no big deal!

I bend the swab slightly (through the packet) so I can get it to my tonsils Without touching my tongue. That makes it far easier not to gag.

they get a bit easier but still not pleasant. I find doing the tonsil swab easier in a mirror, as I can hit the spot without rummaging or pressing too hard.

They get much easier with practise. The nose one still makes my eye nearest the nostril water though. The only time I did it and it was actually painful it turned out I did have covid, I already had stinging in my upper nose before I put the swab up...

You don't need to go as deep into the nose as you think!

I've had a Covid test done in hospital and the nurse just swabbed the inside of each nostril. And when DD and I tested positive on PCR tests, I'd only managed to just touch one of her tonsils with the very tip of the swab before she freaked out - we still got enough of a sample to test positive though (she did have strong symptoms).

It gets easier, I promise. It is grim the first few times you do it. I do them twice-weekly now and honestly I don't feel a thing, and I'm the biggest wimp going. x

We have to do lft every shift we work and a pcr test once a week. Been doing them for such a long time, forgotten how many I've done. It's like second nature now.

@luckylavender

It's really not that bad

Your experience isn't everyone's.

@covetingthepreciousthings

I just do both nostrils instead of throat / nose.

Nose is worse than the throat for me.

It was negative so I am off the hook for a few days

I must add that every one I've done has been negative, still hate doing them.

I am reassured they will get easier 😊

You don't need to go as deep into the nose as you think I thought the opposite, I thought you had to go further than you think.

Anyway I'm with you OP. I haven't had to do tests and have only tried a LFT once just to see what you do, started sneezing and it was all a waste of time. Hopefully I can avoid them for a while longer!

Southampton university use a saliva test, I don't know why it's not more widely used. Sounds much easier and the pilot was successful.

Nose makes me sneeze so much I can hardly breathe. I'm really not convinced how effective they are as people all do them differently anyway.

@Flev

Tip your head back to do the throat swab, it's much easier to get to your tonsils that way whilst avoiding your checks, tongue etc.

I tried that & was just randomly jabbing my throat with the swab 🤦🏻‍♀️ Luckily I've only had to do one test (so far anyway!)

I'm really not convinced how effective they are as people all do them differently anyway.

I've wondered this, how many are negative because they were poorly conducted 🤷🏻‍♀️

The instructions with my tests say 1cm into the nose.