Stop overusing lateral flow tests!

[musicalfrog]

How many posts on this forum say "ooh I tested twice yesterday", or "ooh I'm waiting for a pcr result but still taking a lateral flow every day"...

Have some fucking thought for the expense to the taxpayer of all these tests, and the poor folk who are struggling to get a supply of tests to keep their loved ones safe while you fritter them away without a second thought.

You DON'T need to take more than one test a day, you DON'T need to keep testing while waiting a pcr result (you should be isolating) and you DON'T need to be testing every day unless you're a close contact.

Over consumption is killing this planet, these are prime examples.

We get anyone coming to see us to use LFT.

What if they can't get hold of one?

I agree. But it has become akin to a religious ritual for some - the daily LFT.

@plinkplinkfizzer

I have never in the years i have been here seen anyone complaining about the plastic waste of pregnancy tests , and yet posters use dozens of them . Anyway I would rather see plastic in landfill than bodies in the ground , especially mine .

Yes because people's whole families, husbands and children included, are taking pregnancy tests daily aren't they? So much so that you can't even get them anymore?

Single use plastic in any form is a problem but don't pretend pregnancy tests are on the same scale as this currently.

@2irishmums2be

But there is people negative in the morning and positive in the evening?

Yes, this happened to me just the other day, after being in contact with cases. Tested negative, no symptoms. Several hours later, flu like shivers and shakes, tested positive.

@ChristmasyFairy

AllThingsServeTheBeam I don't understand, If you are due for surgery the hospital will give you guidance on what to do. You don't need test daily as far as I know. You will need to do a test before admission and isolate for a few days beforehand. You should have this is writing. have you?

I know exactly what I need to do. I am testing so that I know I do not have covid and my surgery will go ahead. I am not feeling guilty about it. I have WFH since march 2020 and the first LTF I took was the 23rd of December. I won't be taking any more now either as I have now had my PCR, but for my piece of mind me and DP have been testing.

@musicalfrog

*But your family will not be protecting themselves by doing a LFT before using public transport.

They will only be protecting other people!*

Right @ChristmasyFairy!!

I love how it's now being assumed I only care about my own family.

Your post was very confusing and you are twisting what I said.

Your post implied that you wanted to protect people on public transport.
I have since corrected any misunderstanding in a following post. so please stop having a go.

BUT for the record, if you need to do a long journey on PT to see elderly and CV people, I'd think again on that. I'd hire a car or delay the visit until Omicron has died down a bit.

You can pick up the virus on PT and it might not show on a LT for many days.

I don't use them unless I have good reason to or if it is a specific requirement for work. I hate all the plastic and the 'Made in China' sticker just irks me a bit. I also feel that given the government has given the green light for a free for all of mass mixing on NYE there is little point in me fretting about anything for the greater good because they have clearly decided to let it rip.

@AllThingsServeTheBeam so you are on who is wasting tests. It's nothing to do with what you think you need to do, The hospital has done a PCR and that's what they do a few days before surgery. If you are isolating now why on earth are you testing? It won't change anything.

It’s just like petrol, who should we blame? The media for telling us they were out of stock one day. Queue the perfect storm of Omicron, Christmas and the need to protect the vulnerable, so extra tests taken plus the slow xmas post. People have told me they have gone onto the test request website early at 7.30 ish and managed to get some.

Thanks for preaching to the converted @ChristmasyFairy I'm well aware of the risks that's why I want to test.

Sometimes it's not possible to change plans and sometimes people can't afford to hire a car! I just want to be able to test when required, and seeing people abuse supplies of tests gets my back up.

I'm not the problem here.

@musicalfrog

We get anyone coming to see us to use LFT.

What if they can't get hold of one?

Then they don't come @musicalfrog

Lots of families, including us, have delayed having family here. One set would have to come by tube and train. Too risky. It's being delayed until the booster one has had recently kicks in.

@SilverGlitterBaubles

I don't use them unless I have good reason to or if it is a specific requirement for work. I hate all the plastic and the 'Made in China' sticker just irks me a bit. I also feel that given the government has given the green light for a free for all of mass mixing on NYE there is little point in me fretting about anything for the greater good because they have clearly decided to let it rip.

This is me. I've no intention of using LFTs anymore unless I have a solid reason to i.e. someone in my household tests positive or I'm visiting someone vulnerable which I never do.

Other than that I'm not going down this route of testing every time I go to put the bins out or nip for a pint of milk from the corner shop.

OP: I'm fed up of certain people over-using LTFs against the guidelines when there's no need.

Half the comments: I use them according to the guidelines! Don't tell me what to do!

Well OP wasn't talking about you then, was she? Ffs...

[quote ChristmasyFairy]@AllThingsServeTheBeam so you are on who is wasting tests. It's nothing to do with what you think you need to do, The hospital has done a PCR and that's what they do a few days before surgery. If you are isolating now why on earth are you testing? It won't change anything.[/quote]
Because I lie awake at night. Because I can't rest, eat or sleep with fucking worry. Because my kids don't know what to do or say to me anymore when they know I have gone into another room to cry. That's why. Just so there is a tiny bit of me that thinks the op on the 31st will go ahead. I have been waiting for years. I have 5 more ops I need before my mobility is anywhere near right. My head is shot. My family do nothing but worry about me. So forgive me for wasting about 10 fucking tests. That ok with you?

I'm not the problem here.

No but you are unwilling to consider any changes to your own plans.

If it's really that important not to carry the virus to family, then you might think about not seeing them until the R rates are lower.

Many people who are desperate to meet up have made that choice.

And, as others have said, you do need to keep trying at all times of the day for the NHS tests to be posted.

Try every hour all day until late evening or even during the night if it's that vital you have them.

And ask around on FB if anyone in your area has some to spare.

@AllThingsServeTheBeam Your behaviour makes no sense and maybe if you read the posts by @musicalfrog you can understand how it impacts on others.

and no, it's not okay with me as I have a DP with stage 4 cancer and WE need family to do tests before they meet us.

@appleturnovers

OP: I'm fed up of certain people over-using LTFs against the guidelines when there's no need.

Half the comments: I use them according to the guidelines! Don't tell me what to do!

Well OP wasn't talking about you then, was she? Ffs...

😂😂 I know right??

This is like the posts on ‘so many people were out in a non essential place (whilst I was also out in said place)’ from early on in the pandemic.
People are using them for public health reasons not for fun. Yes there maybe the odd person using them incorrectly but that majority like YOU OP are wanting to test to protect their family.
As PP said be angry at the government distribution plan.
And for those lamenting the plastic waste over public health needs -do you feel the same about the vaccine syringes?!

the majority not that

In some situations this information is incorrect. We were advised to continue doing daily LF test while awaiting PCR results both when:
A) my son was asked to PCR test as part of a whole class PCR request, and
B) when other people in the house had tested positive, and the children were awaiting close contact PCR tests.

In neither case did they need to isolate, but needed to continue with LF tests in case they showed a positive before we got a positive PCR test.

No but you are unwilling to consider any changes to your own plans.

With the greatest respect, why the FUCK should I?

My family and I have sacrificed far too much in the last two years already. It's the Christmas holidays so I'm sure you'll forgive me if we try and enjoy some of it?

The poor' have a right to be safe too you know. Just because you don't earn a decent salary doesn't mean you won't get really ill if you catch it or others you spread it to others.

No, but it does mean the person you're replying to is correct that lots of people on low wages won't be testing because they can't afford to isolate. One doesn't have to like this to understand that it's happening.

[quote ChristmasyFairy]**@AllThingsServeTheBeam* Your behaviour makes no sense and maybe if you read the posts by @musicalfrog* you can understand how it impacts on others.

and no, it's not okay with me as I have a DP with stage 4 cancer and WE need family to do tests before they meet us.[/quote]
Well anxiety doesn't make sense does it. These are not tests I have got from a pharmacy or ordered. They were tests given to me by my mum months ago when her college was handing them out box fulls at a time. I am not taking them away from current stock. Be rest assured I won't be testing again. Nothing to do with this thread. I will just know by this afternoon if my surgery is going ahead or not.

People are illogical about this situation. PIL test twice a week for no reason to 'just because'. They test when they have not been out or seen anyone for days and think every twinge could be Covid. It's becoming an expensive reassurance tool in some cases.

Agree OP - I can't get any either and I know of people stockpiling them