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Original poster

Am I swabbing long enough?

18 replies

confusedmummy123 · 04/10/2021 13:40

Have had to take my two children for pcr tests lately. It's hard as son is autistic so it's incredible difficult anyway and it's no easier with the 6 year old daughter! My son was all wriggly and I was worried I hadn't got enough sample on the swab but it came back as positive so it picked something up. What would happen if the swab doesn't collect enough sample or nothing at all due to incorrect procedure used? Would the result be invalid or show as negative? Even on myself I worry if I'm doing it right !

OP posts:
Original poster
confusedmummy123 · 04/10/2021 16:40

Anyone? Worried I'm not doin it properly

OP posts:
Miracle29 · 04/10/2021 16:45

I have this situation with my dd. She will do her nose herself with me guiding as this is the only way she will do it. The first time she did one I took a nornal cotton bud and asked her to wipe in her nose with it just so she knows it just tickles abut then once she'd done that she was OK to do her nose but she absolutely refuses me to do her throat I've tried all the tricks..I've even tried when she's asleep but instantly shuts her mouth so definitely wouldn't recommend that so in the end I've just done her done so I'm hoping that's enough. It's not the nicest things for an adult let alone a child I wish there was a way to do it without them feeling uncomfortable.

StripeyBadger · 04/10/2021 16:45

It’s likely to be inconclusive.

Original poster
confusedmummy123 · 04/10/2021 16:55

So you just think it would be inconclusive? I'm guessing to get some result then I must have obtained enough sample

OP posts:
Noogar · 04/10/2021 17:10

I've had a void one once

Jacketpandbeans · 04/10/2021 17:14

I don't know the answer to your question but I do wish this country would introduce the lollipop style tests they have elsewhere. I learnt about them on another thread on Mumsnet a while back and they look a lot easier and less traumatic for young children!

FawnFrenchieMum · 04/10/2021 17:17

I have the same concern. All ours have always been negative rather then inconclusive but not sure that we are doing them all well enough.

Original poster
confusedmummy123 · 04/10/2021 19:39

Noogar can you remember the one with the inconclusive result how much you swabbed? Do you think it was not swabbing enough?

OP posts:
Bobholll · 04/10/2021 19:42

Inconclusive is not because you’ve not swabbed enough. It’s almost always when you’ve touched other parts of your mouth too much. The test becomes invalid basically.

My DD was in hospital over summer & both her & me were swabbed 3 times each over our stay. Honestly, the swab barely went up DD’s nose as it was for about 10 seconds max! They did a bit longer on me but they didn’t go up as far as I’d been doing at home & were far quicker!

Noogar · 04/10/2021 19:51

@confusedmummy123

Noogar can you remember the one with the inconclusive result how much you swabbed? Do you think it was not swabbing enough?
Yes it hardly went up LOs nose. My fault.
Noogar · 04/10/2021 19:51

Kind of just got a bogey on a stick and sent that

Original poster
confusedmummy123 · 04/10/2021 19:54

Thanks Noogar. I'm reassured now then that to get a result I did do it properly. I just get really paranoid. Especially with ds isolating at the moment

OP posts:
Oblomov21 · 04/10/2021 20:46

I had a test pre operation a few months ago. At a drive through. As shocked at how quick they were.
Ds1 had similar pre op drive through test today abc I once again thought to myself that I'd find a lot more swabbing than they did on my recent PCR post holiday return test this week!

Acer82 · 04/10/2021 20:56

@confusedmummy123

Have had to take my two children for pcr tests lately. It's hard as son is autistic so it's incredible difficult anyway and it's no easier with the 6 year old daughter! My son was all wriggly and I was worried I hadn't got enough sample on the swab but it came back as positive so it picked something up. What would happen if the swab doesn't collect enough sample or nothing at all due to incorrect procedure used? Would the result be invalid or show as negative? Even on myself I worry if I'm doing it right !
My godson squirmed so much, his mum hardly got it up his nostril, very quick swab. At the time she thought there was no chance she got a good enough sample. It came back positive!!
neeenor · 04/10/2021 21:33

Tested my 1 year old and he was thrashing & I didn't manage to swab much but he was hysterical. Result was inconclusive.
Test repeated & negative.

Was utterly horrific for him to go through & all when he was unwell with tonsillitis anyway.

I won't be testing him again unless there is a medical need or a risk to others. Even if he was positive my work would expect me in!

Abouttimemum · 04/10/2021 21:35

DS is 2.5 and has had about 8 PCRs. I only ever manage a couple of seconds up one nostril and 7 have been negative and one has been positive. So my presumption is if they do have it then a quick swab up the nose should be enough.

Katya213 · 04/10/2021 21:48

My dad and her best friend at school (both six) were I'll with temps and stuffy nose at the same time. Took my daughter to get tested, thrashed and screamed that much I could only manage to get up her nostrils a little, her result was negative, her friends positive.

Katya213 · 04/10/2021 22:18

I meant DD not dad 🤦🤦

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