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Original poster

Non invasive PCR

26 replies

ThatMondayFeeling · 24/08/2021 13:17

Does such a thing exist? I have a son who is recovering from medical trauma. He’s undiagnosed but probably on the spectrum, and is terrified of doctors and anything remotely invasive (won’t even let a doctor look in his ear without screaming and running away.) There is a chance I might have to travel with him for work later in the year. I’m double jabbed and he’s too young to have the vaccine but we’d both have to have several PCRs or equivalents. Is there a non invasive equivalent for travel? Or if not is there any way of getting an exemption without a formal autism diagnosis? My worry is that if I force him to do it and he gets even more traumatised it could be dangerous if we ever have a medical emergency and have to go hospital (hopefully not of course). Thanks so much in advance for your help.

OP posts:
StormTreader · 25/08/2021 11:34

I think you might be out of luck on this one - the tests have to go into your nose as a minimum because that's where the virus is, and if he is positive for Corona then sadly he wont be any less infectious because he's on the spectrum :(

BunsyGirl · 25/08/2021 11:55

There is a saliva test. www.haloverify.com/

Not sure whether it is accepted in all other countries though so could be a problem with regards to getting a “fit to fly” to enter the particular country you need to travel to. Coming back into the U.K., if your son is 10 under he doesn’t need a test to re enter the U.K. He would still need a day 2 test but the saliva test is acceptable for that.

BunsyGirl · 25/08/2021 11:56

That should be 10 or under. Also, if your son does need a test to return to the U.K., it is possible to “cheat” the system and do it on yourself twice. I’m not saying you should do that but if you are desperate….

Mrsfrumble · 25/08/2021 12:42

I’m also interested in this. Not because we have any plans to travel, but because I think it’s inevitable that someone in the family will catch it or DS will start showing symptoms at some point. DS has ASD, is terrified of invasive medical procedures (won’t even have the flu vax spray up his nose) and tells me in no uncertain terms that he’s never ever doing a Covid test 😬

alloalloallo · 25/08/2021 12:50

I’ve been looking for something too

My daughter has Tourette’s and getting a test anywhere near her is impossible.

I found some saliva tests but at the time school wouldn’t accept them, and for next year her college won’t either so I’m not sure about fit to fly and stuff like that.

She’s had 1 jab - she’s 16

actiongirl1978 · 26/08/2021 07:17

@mrsfrumble we are the same. DS was nearly tested for asd after a psych said it was possible but we decided not to.

However he also wont have flu vax, or go to docs.

I am going to buy some of the spit tests to have in the house as he starts secondary school next week.

8MinutesToSunrise · 26/08/2021 07:21

There are some good social stories about pcr tests specifically written for kids with asd.

JellyTots2009 · 26/08/2021 07:46

My partner has to do regular LAMP tests which is saliva in a tube. He works in a hospital.

Not sure weather it'll be available to you though as it seems it's for those that are employed in hospitals.

Original poster
ThatMondayFeeling · 26/08/2021 08:46

Thank you so much everyone. Sorry for the delayed thanks- for some reason I didn’t get any notifications... I’ll look into the saliva test, thank you! I think having done a deep internet dive the other day, there may also be some that are just tonsils and not nose... Corona obviously doesn’t just stay in the nose, it’s just about finding tests with the requisite sensitivity to test other areas (there was talk of a skin swab as well but that hasn’t come to market quite yet.) I’ll update if I find anything more specific.....

OP posts:
Original poster
ThatMondayFeeling · 26/08/2021 08:48

PS He’s 5. So jab isn’t a possibility.

OP posts:
roses2 · 26/08/2021 08:57

I've had an LFT abroad which was administered by a medical professional. It felt more like a tickle up the nose and there was no throat swab. Far more pleasant than what the UK recommend (shoving it far up your nose + rubbing your tonsils and making you want to vomit). DS(5) did one and laughed throughout as the lady made it a pleasant experience for him.

Does the test require supervision by a medical professional? If you're doing it without anyone watching I would just ask your son to do the nose swab himself and put it in at a comfortable level for 5 seconds in each nostril. That's what I did with DS(5) when we did actually have covid and the test result came back just fine (positive).

Karlee30 · 26/08/2021 12:24

I read somewhere that those with certain conditions can be excused from testing but I am unsure on details, sorry. I don't think you would need a diagnosis of autism for this. I may be wrong but have you got paperwork or evidence of his needs?? Have you thought about claiming DLa if you don't already? Diagnosis isn't everything! Just need evidence.

I totally get it op. My son is autistic. We've had to get him tested when ill on two occasions. No way we could do the throat so we just did the nose which was bad enough!

igelkott2021 · 26/08/2021 15:32

Less invasive tests definitely exist - they were using them at Southampton university and at the Tokyo Olympics. The long jumper Jazmin Sawyers put a video on social media about the covid procedures where she just put the swab in her mouth and into a tube for analysis. I don't know why we have such horrible tests over here.

However, I have been told that you can avoid the nose bit and just put it in your throat. I am not sure that necessarily helps, but it might!

JanglyBeads · 26/08/2021 15:37

Also, the Chinese used poo tests at one point?

eastegg · 26/08/2021 22:43

I am also watching this with great interest, and will look up the saliva test. Thanks for starting OP.

DS who is 4 had a PCR yesterday because some knob sent their child into nursery while waiting for a test result and they were positive. It’s dawned on me that there’s going to be an expectation of testing small children now that they don’t have to isolate after a contact, and this could be a big thing when he starts school in 2 weeks. DH and I said yesterday was the last test we will do on him because it was too traumatic, so if we want him to keep attending school or see his vulnerable grandparents again soon we are going to have to look into whether there are other options!

Original poster
ThatMondayFeeling · 27/08/2021 10:38

Thanks so much everyone. Good to know I’m not the only one looking for this. So I could see if I could get an exemption via his occupational therapist, who is very familiar with his sensory differences. I think the throat one would be a bit better (although still not great), but the right up the nose into the brain thing is a no go for us. Because it would be a fit to fly test it would have to be administered by a medical professional I think. But I need to double check. I’m not excited about it all to be honest but I need to work and I don’t want to leave him behind as I’ll be away for two months Sad
So actively looking for a solution. This was the one I found that looks like just tonsils

Non invasive PCR
OP posts:
Original poster
ThatMondayFeeling · 27/08/2021 10:40

He was diagnosed with global developmental delay when he was 18 months but we haven’t pursued an autism diagnosis (yet) because I’m lucky enough to have medical insurance that has enabled us to get OT privately (and the sensory aspect is by far the trickiest for him currently .)

OP posts:
CloudPop · 27/08/2021 10:43

HaloVerify as mentioned previously - used them this summer - very easy and non invasive (you spit in a tube)

CloudPop · 27/08/2021 10:44

For fit to fly, day 2 tests etc

CarlaH · 27/08/2021 11:35

@CloudPop

HaloVerify as mentioned previously - used them this summer - very easy and non invasive (you spit in a tube)
I had a look at these and saw they are incredibly expensive.

Does anybody think that the price will eventually come down to a reasonable level?

Original poster
ThatMondayFeeling · 27/08/2021 12:32

Wow and they are accepted for flights? Do they have to be supervised by a medical professional?

OP posts:
Original poster
ThatMondayFeeling · 27/08/2021 12:33

@CloudPop sorry that was meant for you.... the HaloVerify i mean

OP posts:
actiongirl1978 · 27/08/2021 13:01

DS can't go up the nose as he has massive nasal polyps (on a referral to ENT as we can't use the nasal spray treatment on him even when asleep). Given that he wouldn't even let a dentist touch his mouth with her hands last week, theres no way a swab will go in his mouth.

We just got our two halo tests delivered. I am considering asking school if we can excuse him from asymptomatic testing and keep them for actual symptoms. It is private school and they are so far super supportive.

They were expensive though.

alloalloallo · 27/08/2021 13:07

I like the Halo ones - were going abroad in July next year 🤞so good to know DD can do a saliva test.

I found these saliva ones from Euroffice earlier this year. www.euroffice.co.uk/product/panodyne-sars-cov-2-antigen-saliva-test-kit/eo0gv1

Unfortunately school, and now college won’t accept them so haven’t tried them, but they’re fairly cheap

CloudPop · 27/08/2021 13:29

[quote ThatMondayFeeling]@CloudPop sorry that was meant for you.... the HaloVerify i mean[/quote]
Yes as far as I know they are valid for all destinations - check their website.

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