How to get PCRs for DCs if we are isolating?

[Wandamakesporridge]

So DH currently isolating as Covid positive.

I am isolating as likely to have it as well (positive LFT, waiting for PCR result).

I have taken DCs for one PCR which was negative. They are doing LFTs daily.

So my question is - if the DCs do eventually test positive on an LFT, which I am kind of expecting - how do I take them for a PCR test, bearing in mind we are both isolating?

you can leave the house to get a pcr or you can get a postal one.

You can get one posted to you

Drive to the test centre.

Get a postal one and drive to the priority post box.

It’s quite a common situation so there are provisions. You’re allowed to leave the house for a test.

Postal test or drive them in the car? The test sites are set up under the assumption that everyone there will have covid so there is distancing and PPE. It’s not ‘breaking isolation’ to go to a test site.

You're allowed to go for them!

When we were in this position I had to get it posted and walk to the priority post box. Ds was a bit young to go to the test centre by himself and we weren’t allowed to go with him.

Ok thanks. There’s a drive-through test centre I can take them to.

The admin around all this Covid testing we’re doing, I feel like I’ve taken on an extra job!

You should order home postal tests.
You shouldn't leave the house if you are positive. You are allowed to go to the test centre for a test for yourself, but not to take others.
You are allowed to leave your house to post the test back.

I took my kids to a test centre while positive 🤷🏼‍♀️ I took them when I took myself because I had no other childcare & I thought best to test them anyway! I was even allowed out the car to test them (they parked me at the back of the carpark). I did tell them I’d had a positive LFT but they just shrugged and said it was fine. To be fair, the test centre was pretty empty & I was nowhere near anyone at all.

Don't do postal tests OP, results take daysss to come back. Drive ins are 24 hours.

@Bobholll

I took my kids to a test centre while positive 🤷🏼‍♀️ I took them when I took myself because I had no other childcare & I thought best to test them anyway! I was even allowed out the car to test them (they parked me at the back of the carpark). I did tell them I’d had a positive LFT but they just shrugged and said it was fine. To be fair, the test centre was pretty empty & I was nowhere near anyone at all.

Don't do postal tests OP, results take daysss to come back. Drive ins are 24 hours.

If you only had a positive lft at that stage, and were going for a pcr - that's allowed. But once you have a positive pcr then you shouldn't leave the house to take others to the test centre.

@Bobholll

I took my kids to a test centre while positive 🤷🏼‍♀️ I took them when I took myself because I had no other childcare & I thought best to test them anyway! I was even allowed out the car to test them (they parked me at the back of the carpark). I did tell them I’d had a positive LFT but they just shrugged and said it was fine. To be fair, the test centre was pretty empty & I was nowhere near anyone at all.

Don't do postal tests OP, results take daysss to come back. Drive ins are 24 hours.

Just to say, postal tests don't always take days in my experience - we did one last week, posted at 5pm, tracking showed it was delivered at midnight and we had results through by 8pm. So just over 24hrs from posting, which is similar to the drive in times.

Order a home test but I'm sure you can leave the house for this anyway! I would drive mine in this situation as the postal tests often take longer!

Even with a postal test you need to leave the house to post in a priority post box. Haven't got one in my village so I'd have to travel anyway so just as well go to a test site if you can!

They’ve had a LFT which was negative. You don’t say whether they have symptoms but I assume not so a PCR isn’t needed. Why so desperate for a test?

@Polkadotties you are supposed to get two PCR tests a few days apart if you are a close contact even without symptoms.

@Eightandahalfyears no you don’t. If you are double vaccinated you do not have to isolate and it is requested that you may wish to take one PCR test, but you do not have to

I spoke to the test and protect people in scotland about this last week. If we have a positive case we all have to be tested as its mandatory and i asked how we could when one of our children requires 2 adults to do the test. They said we could go to any test centre if we has our own car. If not a home one is possible.
So dh and 1 dc who were positive could leave to come with us to test the other dc and me.

[quote Polkadotties]@Eightandahalfyears no you don’t. If you are double vaccinated you do not have to isolate and it is requested that you may wish to take one PCR test, but you do not have to[/quote]
It depends where you live in scotland its a legal requirement to isolate until you have a negative test here as a close contact.

[quote Polkadotties]@Eightandahalfyears no you don’t. If you are double vaccinated you do not have to isolate and it is requested that you may wish to take one PCR test, but you do not have to[/quote]
You don’t HAVE to get a PCR test as a contact, but it is advised that you do.

The wording is:

‘NHS Test and Trace has identified you as a contact of someone who recently tested positive for COVID-19.
You do not have to self-isolate. However, you should book a PCR test, even if you do not have symptoms.’

The postal tests do take longer as you have to wait for the test to be delivered in the first place. You also have to leave the house to go to the post box anyway.

With the drive-through, you test the same day and get the results the following day.

If they are by default isolating because you are and consequently test positive on lft I probably wouldn't even bother with a pcr as its unlikely to be a false positive if covid is already in the household and continue to isolate them.