Testing 3 year old

[MrsLeclerc]

DS is 3 and this afternoon has developed a light but frequent cough.
We did a LTF test as we had one in the house. It came back negative but I've seen that these shouldn’t be used if you have symptoms.

We’ve ordered a PCR test to be delivered but DS started nursery school last week and I’m not sure what the procedure is.

I’m guessing that they won’t accept the negative LTF and he’ll need to stay home until the PCR?

Any tips on getting the swab from a toddler? We only swabbed his nose for the LTF and he was very upset. I read on another thread that people with 4/5yo were told the child could spit on them.

You only need to do the nose for the PCR.

You need a pcr, schools shouldn't accept lateral flow results with symptoms.

It doesn't say in the instructions you can spit on them. If that was acurate I would think that all children would be done that way. It's both nose only for that age.

I would take him to a test centre and do it there as the postal tests seem to take days to get the results. Where as test centre results seem to be back in 24 hours.
I just use bribery with my 3 yr old and let her see me do it first. As others have said you only need to do nose with kids for the PCR and it doesn’t need to go far up at all, as long as the whole swab bit is inside the nostril that’s ok.
I cuddle DD with one of her arms behind my back and get her to hold her teddy or some chocolate so that she can’t try to pull the swab out as easily.

Thanks all for your help. He seems fine but the whole thing has worried me and I’m not at my most logical!

@WetWeekends Good idea on the chocolate bribery and keeping their hands full. Hopefully I can do it fast.

I would go to a test centre if possible, the results will be quicker than waiting for the postal test results.
I tested my 4 year old last Thursday. I won't lie, it was hard. It was like trying to restraint a crocodile. I had to do throat and both nostrils.
We got his results back 10.5 hours later, negative.