Is anyone going for PCR next week as a precaution?

[goldenoldie1]

Given that lateral flows seem to be rubbish / unreliable in confirming positive cases, is anyone going to book PCR tests for their family this week as an extra precaution before mixing?

Yes yes I know you're not supposed to but taking an 'unnecessary' PCR is surely the lesser of two evils compared with Christmas mixing and potentially spreading it around further?

www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2021/oct/lateral-flow-tests-detect-most-people-risk-transmitting-covid-19

Lateral flow tests are not unreliable/rubbish. The new advice is to do them before mingling - so that could mean every day for some people - and every day for all vaxxed contacts. So that increases the chance they will pick up infectious infections even more, compared with a one-off.

I don’t think it’s right to overload the t&t system unnecessarily.

No

LFTs are not unreliable.

You could have PCR tests posted to your home if you think they're necessary. Safer than a family trip to the test centre.

No, I don't think it's right to overwhelm the system especially when prevalence is so high and there are people with symptoms who need them.

We will all take lfts.

Please don't. It will mean the symptomatic people who have colds and actually need the negative result to continue with their lives are less likely to get the results promptly.

Er, no

Please don't. People are isolating waiting for results and consequently off work.Don't slow the system down unnecessarily.

No, because you could test negative that day, then positive the next day, so unless you have symptoms, I would leave the testing to those who needed results more ie those who have had close contact and those with symptoms and they may get results back in time to see family at Christmas.

Please don't do that

No and that is very selfish behaviour.

Where I live there is such demand for testing we're back to having to drive 50 miles to get one.

Don't make this worse OP.

No, that’s ridiculous unless you have come into contact with Covid. The U.K. seems to have worked itself up into a testing frenzy. People need to calm down and stop testing.

No - unless I have symptoms I don’t want to overburden what is an already stretched system. Me and DH will do lateral flows for the few days leading up to Christmas Day. I’ll test 4 year old DD the day before. I won’t test 1 year old DS as quite frankly it’s too traumatic for him and if he seems well, he’s going to the Christmas lunch!
Just being sensible for the next few days and avoiding any busy places.

Honestly, we were tempted. But yeah, system is under a lot of pressure at the moment, dontbthink it's right to add to that unless strictly necessary.

I wouldn't. As the article says, lateral flows are good at detecting people who are likely to be infectious right now, which is what you need before mingling.

Save the PCRs for telling whether people with symptoms really do have Covid. PCR labs are working their socks off and overloaded right now and making the overload worse is not a "lesser evil".

No a lateral flow test is suffice!

Will do one Christmas morning and again Boxing Day morning as we are visiting our parents on those days who are both over 70 with one quite unwell with respiratory problems,

@ThirdElephant

Please don't. It will mean the symptomatic people who have colds and actually need the negative result to continue with their lives are less likely to get the results promptly.

Yes, exactly this. Please don't overload the system

We will have a couple of PCR tests at home for next week as got them for going away - which we are no longer going to. Infact should have just about landed by now!

So we could use them - but these are paid for ones, not the nhs free ones, so not using up their resources.

If we had any form of virus.cold then I'd be tempted. Otherwise I'd use the LFTs we have at home.

You could have PCR tests posted to your home if you think they're necessary. Safer than a family trip to the test centre.

Please don't do that either.

My DS's flatmate has symptoms and has been waiting for a PCR test and result so they can decide what to do - that includes whether DS can come back for Christmas at all. They can't go to a test centre. It took a long time to get the test sent and it's taking a long time get the result. Don't make that worse for others.

these are paid for ones, not the nhs free ones, so not using up their resources.

Don't they all use the same labs? The critical resource is lab time, not just kits.

Thanks for restoring my confidence in the lateral flows. I've just heard so many stories recently of people who have had, in some cases up to four, negative lateral flows but a positive PCR.

I hate the conflicting feeling of really wanting to enjoy this Christmas and see close friends and family against the what if of passing something on.

@AmaryllisNightAndDay

these are paid for ones, not the nhs free ones, so not using up their resources.

Don't they all use the same labs? The critical resource is lab time, not just kits.

No the private test companies have their own labs.

@AtlasPine

I don’t think it’s right to overload the t&t system unnecessarily.

This. Take a couple of LFTs. Don't use a resource that is going to be under huge pressure if you don't have symptoms.

No,please don't go for a test if you don't need one. The testing system is going to be under immense pressure over Christmas, without people wasting time with precautionary tests. Delays with results will lead to essential staff having to isolate unnecessarily while they or family members wait for results. Just do regular LFTs like the rest of us.

No the private test companies have their own labs.

Fair enough then, though I would have thought the NHS buys time from private labs as well.