What happens at a drive through testing site?

[Cuckoointhenest2]

I’m going to my first one tomorrow, I have bad social anxiety and I have ASD, so I don’t really want to come face to face with anyone.
Do they just pass you the kit to do it yourself through the car window? Do they watch you?

Other question, my symptoms started yesterday, so if I’m positive do I count from yesterday ? So it would be 10 days, ending next Friday the 15th?

Sorry, I find these things very difficult and they set off my anxiety , I hate being out of control.

This is how it was where I was tested, there might be some variation.

You drive up, and someone will come towards your window. You open the window slightly so you can hear them, but not far, they'll scan the code in your email and point you towards a parking space.

Once parked someone else comes to your window. They pass you the test kit in a bag, and will give some instructions. There are also written instructions in the bag.

I was left alone to do the test, but told to put my hazard lights on if I needed help, or when I was done.

At my centre they didn't want you to seal the bag alone, they wanted to watch that bit to make sure you'd done it right.

Once you had sealed the test bag you're directed to drive to the exit. Someone is waiting there to scan your code again and take the test bag off you.

Exactly as above for me

We went at the weekend and they scanned the appointment QR code with the windows up. Then passesd us the test kit and said drive over there and do it.
We then parked up did the test no one watching and drive back round by a big bin and they scanned the bar code through the window on the bag. We dropped the kit bag in the bin and off we went.

For us..
Arrive at test site. They check your reg number, then show you a screen so you can confirm its the right person.

Next stand... handed a test kit through window.

Then directed to parking space. They give you instructions through a closed window, then leave you to it. You put hazard lights on if you need help.

They return to watch you seal it up to make sure its right. Then scan the bar code and your booking bar code to connect you to the kit.

You then drive to another stand, put the kit in the box, and drive off.

I just did this earlier today! They were lovely, good signage, people waving us to a spot. They scanned my appointment code thingie through the window and passed the kit through the window open a crack. You're left to do the swabbing which is pretty much like a lateral flow. You put your hazards on to say you're finished. Nobody rushes or crowds you.

I was a bit out of it, feeling feverish with what I'm hoping is just the nasty cold everyone's talking about and I coped OK.

You'll be fine. Can you take someone with you to do the driving? Good luck!

My experiences are similar but with some differences.
I didnt have an appointment.
I drove on to the sight. As the others say you only open your window slightly and given a card. I was directed to the testing station. They came out and did the sob on me. They made sure that I knew to register as soon as I could that I had been tested.

You are told what to do each step of the way.
You will get a text message telling you what to do next eg if it was negative, positive or inconclusive.
If positive you will get your end of isolation date.

When I went, you drove up to a checkpoint and they held up a phone number. You rang it and they answered and talked you through the instructions. Then they passed you the pack through the window. You then drove forward to a larger area and were directed where to park. You did the swab (they didn’t watch), then you put your hazards on to say you were done. They came and checked through the window you’d put everything in the right bags, and told you to seal it. Then you drove up to another checkpoint, where you put the pack with the swab in a box.
They scanned your QR code at some point, I think in the main parking area once you’d completed the swab.

Yes I had to show the QR code through the window and then call a number. They gave me the kit through the window and I parked up. Once done they checked it through the window and told me I could seal it, I then had to drive to the next cabin and drop the kit into a box.
If you are positive they’ll count the day of your symptoms as day 0 then you’ll do ten full days after that so you’ll be out of isolation on Sunday 17th (last day the Saturday)

At the one near us (a big one!) you can say whether you want to do the test yourself or have someone do it for you. If you say you want to do it yourself it happens like PP have described. If you say you want someone to do the test on you, you drive a to a different bit and they come out of a portacabin and you wind down your window and they do the test on you. They are fully PPE-d up. I’ve done both and it was far quicker when someone does the test on you!

DarceyDashwood's experience was the same as ours (I suspect we've been to the same site). The only thing I would add is that we seemed to have to show our QR code through the car window to three different marshals before reaching the person who actually scanned the QR code and fetched the test. And they shouted at us for having the window open, just a crack, but we couldn't hear them when the window was closed!

Completely different to most of these, at our drive through site they do the test for you. No option to do it yourself. You wind down the window, confirm your name, and they do the test. They give you a form to register when you get home.

Ours was the same as these. Held up a sign with a phone number, talked through it. Off to park up. Do test. Chuck it in a bin thing on the way out

I will warn you though, it was very organised, quick and no big deal but it did have abbot of an apocalyptic vibe. Just because it’s such a strange thing

Oh take a tissue in case it makes you sneeze. And some water to take away the feeling from your throat afterward

Good luck!

Been to the same test centre twice, both times it’s been as below:

Drive into test centre, member of staff comes over with mask on to car window and asks if you have appointment. (Have email confirmation ready).

Drive along to next member of staff, again they approach window to scan QR code and direct you to a drive in bay - gazebo with little cabin underneath.

These staff members were on passenger side to keep distance. Wind down passenger window and they throw test kit in through open window onto passenger seat. They will direct you to another member of staff near parking bays.

Park in directed parking bay. Member of staff approaches to briefly advise how to package test and will tell you to put hazards on if you need any help.

Do test whilst in car (full instructions in the test kit), put hazards on to say completed and they will come to window to check you have put test in bag correctly.

They then direct you to another gazebo where they will scan QR code and barcode on test in sealed bag, they use a litter picker to take test bag off you.

Job done!

I agree with @Handsnotwands - although straight forward and not busy it did have an air of refuge camp in a post-apocalyptic disaster type movie about it.

Don’t worry though, you stay in the safety of your own car and nobody comes too close to you. It’s been really quick both times I’ve been, no queuing and can’t have been there more than 5-6 min each time!

My results are just in - took less than 15 hours - and I don't have Covid. Propped up in bed feeling relieved and listening to myself wheeze between coughing spells.

Completely different to most of these, at our drive through site they do the test for you. No option to do it yourself. You wind down the window, confirm your name, and they do the test. They give you a form to register when you get home
Same experience as me.

I will warn you though, it was very organised, quick and no big deal but it did have abbot of an apocalyptic vibe. Just because it’s such a strange thing I agree with this. It was fine and the people were very friendly but it was weird. Just becuase there was a queue of cars all lining up to have this done in a car park.