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Original poster

Can adults just do the nose on pcr?

16 replies

Christmas3143 · 05/12/2021 10:58

Basically I have tmj disorder which means I can't open my jaw that wide. Everyone is always amazed on how little I can open my mouth and jaw including dentists and doctors. It doesn't cause me constant pain but it does flare up. For instance I can't eat chewy food or anything like a crusty. Couldn't get my mouth around an apple or a burger without pain. My jaw has got worse since removal of wisdom teeth! When I open my mouth, you can only see my teeth and tongue and can't even see my tonsils! My tongue is really fat but short so can't even stick it out far.

Anyway, I have a tickly cough and need to do a pcr. When I had a pcr performed by a professional a while ago it was a struggle as she couldn't see due to my jaw but she managed to do it as being used it she just knew where to swab and it was hard keeping my tongue down. But I struggle myself.

Last time I did a pcr the guys working there said it was fine to just do nasal and to try but a nasal swab was fine but somehow I did manage the throat but my jaw has got worse since then, this was quite a while ago and it took me ages, I'm convinced I touched my tongue and top of my mouth. I just can't comfortably get to my tonsils.

But I don't think it's even in the instructions that you can just do both nostrils? I don't mind doing extra thorough nasal swabs!

I know children can but what about adults??

The new lft's only require nasal swab??

Will it be allowed?

OP posts:
musicalfrog · 05/12/2021 11:21

Yes it's OK just to take a nasal swab. There are many reasons why some people can't access their tonsils.

JanglyBeads · 05/12/2021 11:23

You’ve been told in the past it’s fine, so it’s fine! Hope you’re ok OP.

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 05/12/2021 11:39

Yes, I had to have a pcr before an operation the other week, it had to be done at the hospital by a nurse. She only swabbed my nostrils.

Plantsandpuddlesuits · 05/12/2021 11:40

We were told for anyone with Sen just the nose is fine, nose and tonsils are preferred but just nose is better than nothing. Not saying you have Sen but it would come under the same category I suppose!

Theunamedcat · 05/12/2021 11:42

Yup nose is fine I can't do my tonsils without heaving

Original poster
Christmas3143 · 05/12/2021 11:44

Thank you all! I am fine thankfully - just an annoying tickly cough I've had since Friday night! Hopefully covid or not it won't get any worse!

OP posts:
Original poster
Christmas3143 · 05/12/2021 11:45

@Plantsandpuddlesuits

We were told for anyone with Sen just the nose is fine, nose and tonsils are preferred but just nose is better than nothing. Not saying you have Sen but it would come under the same category I suppose!
Thank you - I don't but my son does. I think they say under 10's can just do nasal swab too... he is nearly 11 but there's no way I'll be getting the swab in his throat when he needs a test next dose assume nose his fine because he is in the spectrum!
OP posts:
TopCatsTopHat · 05/12/2021 11:46

If you can't you can't. Rules are for mainstream situations there are always exceptions.

Cookerhood · 05/12/2021 12:28

Yes, just nose will be fine.

SingleHandSue · 05/12/2021 12:40

This is really interesting to read. I have a very small mouth and can’t open it very far either.
I had to do a PCR yesterday and there was no way I was getting to my tonsils.

I tried but I kept hitting my tongue trying to get it through the small gap my tiny mouth left. The person watching didn’t say anything but I made sure to do you both nostrils afterwards.

I’m worried that it will be a void test because there was no touching of the tonsils and I knocked it on my tongue a couple of times.

If I’d have known there was a possibility of only doing nostrils that’s what I would’ve done.

Original poster
Christmas3143 · 05/12/2021 13:17

@SingleHandSue there used to be a bit in the instructions about being able to do both nostrils if you cannot do the throat but I haven't been able to find it in instructions recently when testing dc and today myself (maybe I didn't read properly)! They still seem to mention that kids can just no nostrils.

I guess it's fine but result might not be as accurate but the most recent lft tests are nostril only 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
MumInBrussels · 06/12/2021 00:45

The PCR tests they do here in Belgium only swab a nostril and they seem to work. The tests might be different, but they surely can't be that different - I would think it's fine!

MrsEricBana · 06/12/2021 01:02

Yes. I am similar to you op. I did this when I had covid and it picked up the string positive at the start and the much weaker positive a few days later. Hope you are ok.

gofg · 06/12/2021 06:04

The PCR tests they do here in Belgium only swab a nostril and they seem to work. The tests might be different, but they surely can't be that different - I would think it's fine!

I was just about to say that - it's the same in NZ also.

Giveaschitt · 06/12/2021 10:09

I only do my nose now - I really struggled with doing my throat as I have a very strong gag reflex and was finding that once I started gagging it became impossible. I just do both nostrils thoroughly - it still picked up the very mild dose of Covid I had recently that I caught from DH.

SinoohXaenaHide · 06/12/2021 10:13

When someone can't have the throat swabbed for sensory reasons they say its ok to just do the nose - but I was advised to so both nostrils rather than just one.

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