No PCR tests available in the whole of England.

[EndoplasmicReticulum]

That's useful.

Wasn't just me then.
www.theguardian.com/world/live/2021/dec/27/covid-news-live-australia-case-rise-continues-omicron-grounds-1000-more-us-flights?page=with:block-61c9ce178f08d3319b5dd6b5#block-61c9ce178f08d3319b5dd6b5

@NinaDefoe

Memyselfandfood

The advice is in line with current GV advice:
New cough? No, I’ve had it on and off since September.
High temperature? No
Loss of taste or smell? No

The PCR booking site hasn’t changed its rules for booking (see pic).

Except thats not what you said though is it? You said ‘ ive been ill over xmas’ not ‘i’ve been ill since sept’ also did you ever go for a pcr test when this started? if you’ve never actually gone for a pcr test with the cough, you’ve no idea if you’ve had covid and now have long covid.

I was tested at a walk in centre yesterday at 1.58pm and results came through 23 hours later.

Not sure why anyone needs a pcr for an on/off cough since sept??

@Memyselfandfood if you’ve had the cough since September, did you get a PCR test then?

Started feeling unwell Wed evening, headache, runny nose, temp, aches etc. No drive or walk in tests available in all of the North West of England so ordered postal PCR and it arrived Thursday.

Did the test and sent it off. Royal Mail tracker says it was delivered.

Still waiting for my results 4 days later. 119 said they wouldn't investigate until after 96hours. Phoned again today and the call centre has closed due to high demand. The automated message tells you to phone tomorrow.

My DC had a test late morning yesterday, results around 3pm today

Not surprised really as it has become a hobby for some on here

Saw this in the Guardian. I had one this morning at an NHS staff testing hub. Booked last night, went this morning, they said Id get the results within 5 hours.
Ive got a streaming cold/ cough that testes negative on lateral flow, but Im due at work Weds so thought Id better check with a PCR.

[quote Fiddlersgreen]@Memyselfandfood if you’ve had the cough since September, did you get a PCR test then?[/quote]
That’s for me - Memyself asked me the same question.
Yes, PCR in Sept & Nov. Both negative.
Dr signed me off with flu in Nov.
Cough comes and goes and yes, I have been ill over Christmas. I still am.
Spoke to Dr on Friday. As I’ve already said, she told me to keep taking LF tests (so far 11 negative) & has booked me in for a chest X-ray.

My question was - (bearing in mind PCR is the only test people seem to trust on here) Are LF tests really that crap?
11 negative tests over 5 days all wrong?

@NinaDefoe

My question was - (bearing in mind PCR is the only test people seem to trust on here) Are LF tests really that crap? 11 negative tests over 5 days all wrong?

Seems unlikely they're all wrong

@ShaneTheThird

You don't "need" to go to work if you meet the criteria for a PCR test. You "need" to stay put.

I don't have symptoms but many people at my work do. I need to work. I get no sick pay. I work zero hours on a min wage contract and if someone has to cover days I'm not there they get priority over available hours the next week. It's not happening. If the government say you have to stay off and test then they better have tests immediately available for everyone to avoid this. I'm not losing my income and home for the sake of a mild illness.

Yes, in a similar position. So what do all you wealthy women suggest as an alternative?

Seems unlikely they're all wrong

idontshareprimula This is what I’m thinking... SURELY at least one would have the faintest of lines?

DS has been working flat out at various Covid Testing Sites all over the holiday. The staff work 7.30am-8.30pm. He did 80+ hours last week, including Christmas and Boxing Day. Some sites he was sent to were over 50 miles from home. He said there was still availability at most sites.

Test site staff are working outside the whole day and for the assisted lane in full PPE all day; this is changed and disposed of between every test.

@EndoplasmicReticulum

Family member has "just a cold and a cough, it's fine because lateral flow is negative". FFS. I manage to persuade him to have a PCR test but there are none. Can order a postal one but that's likely to take bloody ages this time of year, isn't it.

I went online this morning at 10.45am and had my test at 11.30am. Loads of appointments.

The LFTs I ordered 5 days haven’t turned up and I’ve had no tracking info (which means they’re probably in a pile in a Royal Mail sorting office). All the pharmacies are out of stock.

We’ve been begging boxes from friends and when those run out, we simply wont test anymore. We cant magic up LFTs from thin air,.

@EndoplasmicReticulum

Family member has "just a cold and a cough, it's fine because lateral flow is negative". FFS. I manage to persuade him to have a PCR test but there are none. Can order a postal one but that's likely to take bloody ages this time of year, isn't it.

PCR tests are available across the country at walk in centres. You are mistaken to say there are none available in the whole country.

Lulu there weren't this morning when I checked. See the news story from the Guardian which says there were none available for several hours due to high demand. There are now, and I've booked one.

@NinaDefoe

My question was - (bearing in mind PCR is the only test people seem to trust on here) Are LF tests really that crap? 11 negative tests over 5 days all wrong?

You’d have to ask what is the point of doing them if 11 tests were all wrong. The only way to be 100% “Covid safe” is to move into the PCR testing station

You’d have to ask what is the point of doing them if 11 tests were all wrong.
The only way to be 100% “Covid safe” is to move into the PCR testing station

That is exactly what I’m asking!
Why are millions of pounds being spent on LF tests if, when they (11 of them) came back negative people don’t trust them?
Why not just do away with them and save all that money?
If they are as unreliable as many on here seem to think, why not everyone who has cold symptoms to go straight for PCR every time?

@LaurieFairyCake they were delivering yesterday as I was doing it. They have a contract so must deliver them. The only day off was Christmas Day.

We literally had 3 PCR's this morning and was 300+ appts.

People need to learn the difference and it's really pees me off.
If you have symptoms - PCR
it's really not rocket science. Both PCR and LF's test in different ways.

LF ARE FOR NO SYMPTOMS.

NO THEY ARE NOT.
Lateral flows do not stop working the second you get symptoms - how would they know? In fact they are far more likely to give a positive result when you have symptoms as you will have a higher viral load. The point of them is at a population level - to find the asymptomatic cares that wouldn't otherwise be found.
If you have symptoms you are encouraged to get a PCR test because they are more accurate and will not have so many false negatives but it really does not do any harm to do a lateral flow at the onset of symptoms & then confirm with PCR.
If you remember we are encouraged to do them to get out of isolation.
It's really not rocket science, I agree, but this myth that is perpetuated on MN that they don't work in symptomatic cases is ridiculous.

People do not seem to understand the difference between “lft’s should not be used to rule out covid if you have covid symptoms” and “lft’s don’t work with symptoms”.

I keep thinking at some point people will stop saying that lft’s somehow become useless if you have symptoms but I’m losing faith.