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.

I agree, OP.
The plastic waste turns my stomach.
I have to test twice weekly for work in a primary school where none of the pupils I come into daily close contact with are testing. DP tests twice a week in similar role. DC1 twice weekly for secondary school.
As someone who can't even justify using contact lenses on account of the amount of extra single use plastic, I shudder to think of it.
So over the holidays, our family are celebrating by not testing at all. We're also not socialising, but that's a small price to pay for getting to step off the test/plastic waste mill for a fortnight.

Ok you made a tiny disclaimer about one bit near the end of a very hyperbolic, divisive and inflammatory post.

But.., You didn’t cover the cev point at all. Or the point that many are making that we’re being told to test before seeing others. At the time of year when we see others.

You “cut the divisive crap thanks”

@Aimeehedge here is the govt advice.

No need to test before seeing others unless it falls into either of these categories. It's also not necessary to test continually while you are staying home, awaiting a pcr test (which is the main reason I wrote my OP)

“ My other beef with this (sorry) is that people now seem to be treating lateral flows as if they are life or death reliable. They're not!”

Lost all faith in them in terms of safe to mix ! 3 people I know who felt a bit rough tested with lfts , took about 4 days for all 3 of them to turn positive but in that 4 days carried on as normal “it’s ok have done test so fine to meet up “ one person potentially has risked 4 other families over Christmas as lft neg so carried on with visits .

That is what’s on the website yes, but ministers have done a media blitz this week saying party as you like but test beforehand. People will have seen this.

I’m not going anywhere and am a plastic-free obsessive when it comes to the kitchen, personal care, packed lunches etc so I’m not being defensive personally.

It’s just that the media message this week has been to test before every event and pcrs have been impossible to book too.

And again I make the point about those who want to protect the cev and are extra cautious.

As I said I agree with most of your point I just think it was a bit ott and attacky in light of the current situation and messaging.

I wish they’d get rid of those little plastic bags too!! They’re so unnecessary :)

I'm just frustrated with what I've been reading on here. The obsessives are putting mine and other families at risk by stockpiling and testing just because they can. Utter selfishness.

(Above post to explain my tone @Aimeehedge)

I don't give a shit if you think I'm selfish. When you have been in as pain for as long as I have and waited for an operation for over 12 months then you'd probably be selfish too. As soon as my op is over I won't be using them as I won't need to due to not leaving the house for yonks while I recover.

@AllThingsServeTheBeam I have huge sympathy for your situation but testing every day with a lateral flow won't make any difference to whether you have your op or not. I do hope it all goes well for you

Stockpiling is selfish I agree. I understand why you’re frustrated because I hate all the waste being generated by all this too.

I think many people are just worried and panicking

The government as ever didn’t think it through and put this “test lots” messaging out at the last minute and caused the panic.

Oddly I think some people stockpile more when something is in short supply, which is the opposite of what you should do!

I hope you get hold of some when you need them

[quote musicalfrog]@AllThingsServeTheBeam I have huge sympathy for your situation but testing every day with a lateral flow won't make any difference to whether you have your op or not. I do hope it all goes well for you [/quote]
It will if dp or DC test positive. I can isolate away from them. I can also let the hospital know in advance and they might be able to fill my spot

Lateral flow tests don't work anyway so thyre a waste regardless. People I know have had covid and tested negative after taking LFT a few times then gone ahead to get the PCR and tested positive

When the Government start to charge for LFTs you will see their popularity plummet.

Try living in Ireland. €5.99 for ONE test in Boots.

I visit my vulnerable dad every day to take him a meal and sit with him.

I test every day before I go, and I will continue to do that for as long as I have enough tests to be able to.

My son attends school so probably has a higher chance of coming onto contact with and catching Covid.

My husband has a people facing role and again has a relatively high chance of catching covid.

I use LF tests to forewarn me if DH,DS or I have Covid so that I can make alternative arrangements for dad.

DS also has to have regular medical appointments, often twice a week and so we have been asked to test him regularly.

I'm also aware that if any of us become close contacts we are supposed to carry out daily tests. This would mean we can continue to work. So I have enough tests in reserve to allow for this.

If this is all selfish then so be it. I live in Leicestershire. My Dad was totally isolated for months and months and months until bubbles were introduced. I was fined for driving to check on him (that would have entailed talking through his window). He is 78 and tried to end his life due to the isolation he endured.

He is now my priority and I'm not apologising for selfishly using lots of tests to try to protect him.

@Cappuccino17

Lateral flow tests don't work anyway so thyre a waste regardless. People I know have had covid and tested negative after taking LFT a few times then gone ahead to get the PCR and tested positive

They aren't 100% accurate, but they are accurate enough to make their use worthwhile.

LFTs forewarned us when DH had Covid early this year,.
Last week they showed that my BIL and nephew had it. Both were asymptomatic, and subsequently tested positive on PCRs. This helped them know to cancel their Christmas Day plans to avoid passing it on.

I can't understand why people think that they are pointless because they aren't 100% reliable. I wear a seatbelt and lock my front door- neither of these 100% guarantee I won't get hurt / burgled but they are absolutely worth doing anyway!

I’m currently isolating and have been in my bedroom away from my CEV husband and dc all Christmas.
It’s day 6 today and I will do a test and will do one tomorrow ( if they are both negative I’m released from isolation but if not I have to get 2 consecutive days neg result until day 10 and it ends ). My CEV DH is testing every day but we have 3 tests left - the DC ( adults) are not testing at all because of this lack of lateral flow tests.
We cannot get any more tests. They are allowed under the rules to be out and about/ at work as they are vaccinated but should be testing every day for 7 days , they can’t.
So basically the rules in place now cannot be followed. People are not testing when they should be .

My daughter is positive. I'm in the third trimester of pregnancy. The whole household is testing daily right now. Prior to that myself and the kids have to test 2-3x weekly for school/work. Yep we have a "stash" as I work in a school plus got school kids so they are handed out to us.

I must admit, I can't bear all the single-use plastic. Climate change worries me much more than Covid.
I guess it's about finding balance. I test once a week, and/or if about to spend time with vulnerable people, and if about to embark on a long journey on public transport, as I did on Christmas Eve. That feels about right. I don't feel the need to test daily. But then, I both work and live alone, so far less likely to catch or pass on Covid than many. I recognise everyone's personal circumstances are different. I get why some people feel the need to test more.
Hopefully we'll all be told we can relax more about testing once cases drop down again. Which if Omicron here mirrors the SA pattern, shouldn't be too far away...

I think we are going through another phase of change and at the moment, use is somewhat necessarily but often excessively high.

I think of it as

1. It’s helping us build better data and better data will help us to move forwards, and
2. It’s an emerging alternative to isolation which I think we are all keen to avoid if we can

Problem is that govt as usual has based its policy decisions on schools / nhs / staffing levels and not on clear public health data, so essentially all the testing is needed to find out what impact their policies are actually having retrospectively. That’s why there isn’t enough supply, they didn’t plan for it.

Question is whether we should have too much testing or too little given that people vary wildly in behaviours. My feeling is that temporarily too much is better so that we can get to stage where too little is not an issue. Therefore issue at the moment is supply, not demand.

God knows how they’re going to deal with schools going back next week?? Has anyone seen any signs anywhere at all that there is any indication that they’ll be ready??

So you can stop with your divisive crap thanks

You started it

[quote musicalfrog]@Aimeehedge here is the govt advice.

No need to test before seeing others unless it falls into either of these categories. It's also not necessary to test continually while you are staying home, awaiting a pcr test (which is the main reason I wrote my OP)[/quote]
Be aware that this is not the advice in the whole of the uk. In Scotland we are advised to test before interacting with anyone - so if you see other people, go to the shops, have a doctors appointment. So I test most days as advised to and because it’s the responsible thing to do when the variant is highly transmissible and an LFT is the only way you will know you have it before you do develop symptoms/if you are asymptotic.

So OP can't get hold of a LFT so comes onto MN to abuse us all.

Charming

Tell the government that then. I do 3 lft a week and one pcr which is mandatory for work

So, OP, none of us should be selfishly frittered away LFTs because you want them.for your family.
Right......