Why aren't people pcr testing?

[Acer82]

Spoken to two friends with dc in my child's year last few days. One child has had a temp, sore throat etc...and they have just been doing lft tests, the other child was off last week with a cold and bad cough and I said did they have a pcr and they said no, we just kept isn't the lfts. My dc from the same year has been off today, woke up with sore throat, achy, cold but no temp/cough/loss of taste/smell. I'm probably thinking ill get him a pcr anyway. I don't understand why people aren't getting the pcr tests especially when they have a cough and temp? Have people just given up on them?

I have a cold (with a cough) and went for an NHS PCR at the weekend, in a local car park about five minutes drive away. There was a tent set up with "laboratory" written on the side. I got the (negative!) result back three hours after testing Not quite the 24-36 hours I was used to! I didn't know that was a thing now. Maybe more people would test if they knew they could get the results in a few hours rather than a day or two later?

Interestingly one of the people working there said "ooooh, you sound bad!" (hoarse throat) which suggested there's a lot of people who sound perfectly well going through!

Reading this thread I’m beginning to think I shouldn’t have bothered! Especially as I don’t have any of the three symptoms listed on gov.uk. Oh well - at least if I get a negative PCR I can go about my business with a clear conscience.

@FTM8987 👏 my hero.

They’ve closed a lot of the mobile PCR test centres. When there was a centre less than a mile away I’d have booked a test, but it’s now over 5 miles away. I’m not bothering with that hassle, who has time to make a 10 mile round trip when a LFT can be done at home?

@Treblebass not sure why my post warranted that response?

who has time to make a 10 mile round trip when a LFT can be done at home?

@NumberNineTwo apparently the LFT isn’t as accurate as PCR, according to what I’ve read on here?

I wouldn't know how to get a PCR test.

Who do you order them from? Or where would you go to get one?

I could get one via work (and 50 mile round trip with no petrol...) 🤔 so I'd stick to the LF myself.

@Fordian you can get one posted to your house!

I PCR tested two of my children last week as they were coughing. It took 30 hours to get the results, so they missed two days of school, I was able to change plans and work at home, but it wasn’t ideal. Plus testing my 5 year old in a car was nearly impossible, two arms weren’t enough to hold a swab, pin his arms down and hold his head still! I know I could have got a home test but it would have taken even longer, rather than booking a drive through for straight after we made the decision.

I can see why people would be reluctant to test if they can’t work at home, or if the children keep coming down with things. I’m certainly not the only one of my 5 year old’s class to have done PCRs recently (though all negative that I have heard of)

@Fordian you can book or order one here, I am sure there will be a test site closer than 50 miles www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test

[quote Treblebass]@Silverswirl

You would need the head of a rhino to get past the clipboard head teacher at my children’s school at pick up ticking off who’s been tested and who’s not this week. I draw the line at her requests for us all to send her the results though.[/quote]
Oh yes don’t get me wrong, they are asking kids to put their hands up who’s had a test and sending home letters with the words fear and afraid over and over again every other day. However, under 11’s do not need to be tested as is on the government website. No one can force a test on anyone else. If there are symptoms or illness then yes, they can require a test before the child comes back but that doesn’t apply for well children with no illness or symptoms, even with multiple cases in the class

@Fordian

I wouldn't know how to get a PCR test.

Who do you order them from? Or where would you go to get one?

I could get one via work (and 50 mile round trip with no petrol...) 🤔 so I'd stick to the LF myself.

I'm sure you could Google what to do

If they have symptoms of Covid then they should isolate while awaiting the results! They must not be sent to school!

I think that's part of the issue. People don't want to loose time of work and school when it's probably not covid. Remember about 90% of PCR tests come back negative.

If People could do PCRs just incase and go about live as normal more would be inclined to test.

NumberNineTwo apparently the LFT isn’t as accurate as PCR, according to what I’ve read on here?
I don’t give a crap. I’ve done my civic duty by doing the lft test, I’m not going to put myself out to get a pcr test when it’s inconvenient for me.

@NumberNineTwo

NumberNineTwo apparently the LFT isn’t as accurate as PCR, according to what I’ve read on here? I don’t give a crap. I’ve done my civic duty by doing the lft test, I’m not going to put myself out to get a pcr test when it’s inconvenient for me.

You've not done your civic duty if you haven't taken the test you are supposed to if you have symptoms of covid. LFTs miss up to 50% of cases and shouldn't be used to rule covid out

People don't want to isolate. And I don't blame them.

We can't all afford to keep our kids off school for every cough and sniffle.

You've not done your civic duty if you haven't taken the test you are supposed to if you have symptoms of covid.

I don’t have the symptoms of Covid according to gov.uk, which is why I was rejected for a PCR test. But I do have a runny nose, tickly throat and feel rundown. The gov need to update their symptoms list ASAP!

But when the results take 5 days like they did with mine the other week why bother...

But when the results take 5 days like they did with mine the other week why bother...

Well in my case it’s because if I do have Covid, I don’t want to pass it onto loved ones (or anyone for that matter!)

It is a PITA though…

I'm not even doing LFT's to be honest, my daughter became hysterical when she had to have a COVID test.

Because for some completely unknown reason I can no longer book tests at the still open test centre 2 miles from my house and instead am forced to trek across town. I genuinely have no idea why! So 7 minute journey, not an issue, 1 hour round trip plus testing time and I just can't be arsed!

@FTM8987

But when the results take 5 days like they did with mine the other week why bother...

Well in my case it’s because if I do have Covid, I don’t want to pass it onto loved ones (or anyone for that matter!)

And when you don't you're quite happy to lose 5 days of income or for your healthy child to miss school?

@Narutocrazyfox

No testing hasnt stopped.

Please PCR test for symptoms. Yes it could be negative BUT you wont know without a test.

Testing means most cases are picked up. Which reduces the risk of others contracting covid. Doesnt remove all risk but does reduce.

For CEV families our lives are literally in the hands of others. Shielding has stopped but the risk hasnt changed. Testing is one of the only mitigations and safety nets we have.

So a slight inconvinence to you and your child will likely put our child on life support.