Are antigen tests less painful than PCR?

[alienbaby]

Getting an antigen test done tomorrow, I find PCRs painful. Any experiences?

Don't lateral flows test for antigens?

A lateral flow test? The sampling is identical.

So it would be the same process of swabbing as it is for PCR. Or I've been doing them wrong!

PCRs and lateral flows are both antigen tests.

Some Lateral flows might only require you to do nose, not throat. Otherwise the collection process is the same.

@Palavah

PCRs and lateral flows are both antigen tests.

Some Lateral flows might only require you to do nose, not throat. Otherwise the collection process is the same.

I thought they were different? Don't LFTs test for a protein and PCRs check the actual RNA?

LFT & PCR tests are taken in the same way (some LFT are node only) and should not be painful - I have had many of both types. If it hurts, you're doing it wrong.

It's not me doing them to myself its tests administered to me @SpeedRunParent and I find many are pretty over zealous

Most lateral flows are now nose only which I find much easier. A bit uncomfortable and makes your eyes water

See I prefer the throat swab, the nose swab makes me feel like I'm being pierced through to the brain 😵

@alienbaby

See I prefer the throat swab, the nose swab makes me feel like I'm being pierced through to the brain 😵

If it hurts you’re doing it too far in. Honestly. It shouldn’t feel like that.

@Bagelsandbrie
I know that but these are ones being done to me...

@alienbaby
Why do t you do your own then. Even my disabled 14 year old is handed a swab to do his own.

Presumably OP doesn't have the choice to do it herself. I think in Ireland you don't swab yourself, might be wrong on that.

I had a couple done to me at the start of the pandemic, all those saying they don't hurt have presumably not had them done by someone else. I had one with DH sitting next to me holding my hand - he yelped when he saw how far the swab went in. I'm much kinder to myself.

[quote SpeedRunParent]@alienbaby
Why do t you do your own then. Even my disabled 14 year old is handed a swab to do his own. [/quote]
If for traveling many countries will only allow those that have been taken by someone else rather than yourself

What country are you in?

I'm in France right now and their PCR tests are bloody painful

@SpeedRunParent
Thanks I hadnt though of doing it myself

My daughter got a nose bleed from someone else doing a test on her. You can get unlucky and have an over zealous person doing it. They work perfectly well, even if you don’t shove them too far up, so it is very annoying.

@alienbaby
😁

@EasterIssland
It doesn't matter what hospital / test centre you go to, you have a right to ask them to hand you the swab so that you can stick it up your own nose.

@SpeedRunParent
🤭
I think I will just lie to the one who does my test today and tell her last time I got a nose bleed from it so can she be careful please.

@SpeedRunParent
Seriously are you allowed to fo that?!

I think it varies by the person administering it rather than the type of test. DD had to have regular swabs done when we were in France and it was amazing how differently people did it (all pharmacists)- some barely tickled the end of her nose, others were practically performing brain surgery. I'd suggest mentioning that you find it painful as that might encourage them to be gentle.

Yes the French ones are brutal.

The ones in the UK are nothing in comparison