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Original poster

Testing twice a week?

72 replies

julieca · 29/11/2021 20:53

I read someone say that we should all be testing twice a week. This was news to me. I know that people in some jobs are supposed to test twice a week. But surely we don't all have to?

OP posts:
SGChome20 · 29/11/2021 22:38

It’s heavily promoted in Scotland to test twice weekly and before socialising across social media, tv etc

Orchidflower1 · 30/11/2021 06:02

I think @julieca this thread has served for two purposes

  1. highlighting the need for regular asymptotic LFT testing.

  2. highlighting that a range of reputable news sources are required. Apps are great depending upon the source. Maybe a quick peruse of sky news each day would be useful either streamed or their website.

bloodywhitecat · 30/11/2021 06:28

When you order on line the last page the blurb reads

"When the test pack arrives
You should:

take a test twice a week (every 3 or 4 days)
report every result to the NHS on the same day you take the test"

Testing twice a week?
Niki14 · 30/11/2021 06:29

It was definitely on both my news apps, a press conference and on the BBC breakfast show and my local radio breakfast show. Its also been on DoH and my local council etc on multiple social media platforms. I remember having to amend my ongoing covid risk assessment for work and adding it in months ago. We've now changed to mandatory testing twice weekly at work.

JanglyBeads · 30/11/2021 06:34

Do people realise that the reason why the advice was to test twice a week is that LFTs aren’t that likely to pick up a positive case - less than 50% likely?

Therefore using them every few days increases the chances of catching an infection at its peak when there is enough virus to show.

Therefore doing them regularly and frequently is worthwhile.

User5489205347 · 30/11/2021 06:45

It's a shame that they don't seem to be very accessible if you haven't got a smartphone or internet, apparently (from the other thread) you have to show a qr code or something in chemists

dementedpixie · 30/11/2021 06:47

I didn't need a code to get mine from the sports centre but I'm in Scotland so maybe it's different. They didn't even take my name

dementedpixie · 30/11/2021 06:51

Looks like you can phone 119 too if you can't use the online service

MrsSkylerWhite · 30/11/2021 08:36

I think @julieca this thread has served for two purposes

  1. highlighting the need for regular asymptotic LFT testing.

  2. highlighting that a range of reputable news sources are required. Apps are great depending upon the source. Maybe a quick peruse of sky news each day would be useful either streamed or their website“

This.

I don’t look at news apps, BBC news, radio 4 or world service on all day. It was all over each.

VikingOnTheFridge · 30/11/2021 08:43

@AliMonkey

They do expect common sense eg if you rarely leave the house or come into contact with anyone then twice a week would be overkill. If you travel on crowded trains, work in close proximity with people or visit vulnerable people, then I'm amazed that people aren't doing it. No wonder it just won't go away!
It 'just won't go away' because it's a virus that's become well and truly embedded and not even lockdowns could achieve that, so it simply isn't going to happen. The only question is what our ongoing management of this situation should look like, and LFTs currently being easily available is part of that.
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 30/11/2021 09:31

If testing is going to be long term I hope someone somewhere is working on something more environmentally friendly than all the single use plastic.

VikingOnTheFridge · 30/11/2021 09:40

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

If testing is going to be long term I hope someone somewhere is working on something more environmentally friendly than all the single use plastic.
Same, although I suspect widespread LFTing is going to be phased out sooner rather than later.
shinynewapple21 · 30/11/2021 09:41

I think it depends on what your normal contacts are - for a lot of people who work with public or maybe a busy office their workplace will recommend twice weekly testing, as do schools .

It would make sense to me that even if your workplace doesn't ask for it, if you are working in enclosed space to people and/or frequently socialising it makes sense to do it to limit asymptomatic spread .

If you work from home and never see anyone it would be a waste of resources .

I test weekly as I visit my mum in a care home, and may test additionally if visiting another friend who's vulnerable or a big group.

Thewiseoneincognito · 30/11/2021 09:43

In my job it’s daily. Takes 30 seconds at most.

Sparklingbrook · 30/11/2021 10:14

@Thewiseoneincognito

In my job it’s daily. Takes 30 seconds at most.
Is that including getting the result and logging it?
Original poster
julieca · 30/11/2021 10:27

@MrsSkylerWhite

I think *@julieca* this thread has served for two purposes

  1. highlighting the need for regular asymptotic LFT testing.

  2. highlighting that a range of reputable news sources are required. Apps are great depending upon the source. Maybe a quick peruse of sky news each day would be useful either streamed or their website“

This.

I don’t look at news apps, BBC news, radio 4 or world service on all day. It was all over each.

I am fine with my news apps thanks. And I have ordered online tests and not read the blurb apparently on the last page. As I said I have seen news stories about testing, but they were like the one I shared. They said children, people going to college and certain workers should test twice a week. I shared a link, it did not say everyone. I wonder if this is a bit of the rewriting of history that seems to be happening at the moment in England?
OP posts:
Original poster
julieca · 30/11/2021 10:27

And it does not take 30 seconds to do. I was not complaining about doing them, but lets not exagerate.

OP posts:
luckylavender · 30/11/2021 11:04

@julieca - it's been the guidance for weeks

Roadtripconcept · 30/11/2021 11:28

I've been doing them for about a year now .
My town had really high levels of covid on the run up to last Christmas . The local council started community testing centres where anyone could go to get a lateral flow test . I swapped to doing them myself when the home boxes of 7 were introduced .
I don't have children at school and I don't work for the NHS .

shinynewapple21 · 30/11/2021 14:27

It's just a recommendation though @julieca and depends on individual circumstances. I think yours is a bit borderline actually as you are seeing others regularly for social or exercise activities even though you work from home . I would probably test less myself if I wasn't meeting regularly with anyone who was particularly vulnerable.

It probably makes sense to do it more regularly at the moment until it is clear what is happening with the new variant.

ColinTheKoala · 30/11/2021 14:39

@Akire

There an advert on tv running about how to test to keep everyone safe. What do people imagine when we talk of lateral flows that are purely for no symptom testing. Or do people think just for going on holiday?
You use a LFT when you have cold symptoms and order a PCR if it's positive, or if you have covid symptoms.

The point is though 1 in 3 positive cases have no symptoms is that still the case though? I know it was the case with the first version.

Akire · 30/11/2021 17:03

Yes far as we know still 1 in 3 no symptoms hence not waiting until you do. Although I guess so many them will get picked up from testing in households where there is a positive symptomatic test.

Did one today before the dentist but ended up using 3 nose swabs as there was some blood even though I’m really gentle. So that’s half a box as can’t order certain part just all or nothing.

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