Can I use a home PCR test I received last week?

[chalkyc2]

Eldest son tested positive last Sunday - 2 LF and woke up with symptoms on the Monday. I ordered PCR for us all but actually the rest of the family stayed symptom free and negative LF so didn't bother with them. Younger son now full of cold - negative LF but can I use the PCR I received for him last week now? Or do I need to order another one/go to a test centre? Thankyou (and urgh!!)

Yes you can use the pcr test you already have.

Yes you can. I was sent a load of PCRs with my last lot of LFTs, as part of a research project to assess how accurate the LFTs are (better late than never ) and it said in the accompanying instructions that if you don't want to use them whenever you do an LFT, you can just save them and use them when you do need a PCR

Great thanks I'll do that rather than dragging him out!

Just remember to log on and register the bar code, my son forgot and didn’t get his results through until 5 days when he had to ring to find out.

Oh god - I hope I've done it right. Said child now feeling better and bouncing off walls and can't go into school until negative PCR!

Does anyone know how long after you've received a PCR test that it can be used? Do they 'go off'? Thank you

They have expiry dates on them.