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Covid

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Original poster

Nasal covid swabs

18 replies

Trixiebell06 · 31/12/2021 21:27

Hi , I’ve got a few of the nasal covid tests are they less accurate than the throat and nose tests ?
The instructions specifically say swab nostrils could I swab both the throat and nose with this test ?

OP posts:

Bobholll · 31/12/2021 21:29

I don’t think you can get the throat ones anymore. They were replaced with just nose. They are as accurate as any others. Not brilliant but helpful.

You can do your throat if you want but the swab is pretty short!

Roadtripconcept · 31/12/2021 21:35

You can still get the throat and nose ones . I still get given them in chemists . You can use the nose only ones on your throat. It's trickier as the handle on the swab is shorter .

KCee30 · 31/12/2021 21:38

The new ones are nose only and the swabs are shorter I believe for that reason. I got a positive on nose only lft then did a terrible job with pcr on my tonsils. My children only did the nose on pcr and were positive.

I really struggle with the throat. I have a small mouth and my tongue takes up the whole space which means my throat swab is terribly done and I'm likely touching other things other than my tonsils in the process so for me I feel testing my nose only is more accurate.

ashorterday · 31/12/2021 21:39

It's been reported the last few days that using the nose only ones as throat plus nose swabs makes results more reliable...

ajandjjmum · 31/12/2021 21:43

@ashorterday

It's been reported the last few days that using the nose only ones as throat plus nose swabs makes results more reliable...

I'd seen this too - it's what we have started doing recently.

Someone did four tests, two showed as negative and two as positive. The two positive had both had throat swabs as well as nasal. Just some randomer somewhere, but it makes sense to me!

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 31/12/2021 21:45

I can only have the throat swab if it's done by staff at the testing centre and even then it takes a few goes. If I try and do it myself I'll swab everything except my tonsils and probably be sick!

I've still got some of the nose and throat ones but I'm only going to do my nose with those as well as the NHS website says that's ok. They'll go to waste otherwise.

Original poster

Trixiebell06 · 31/12/2021 21:50

There is a shortage of tests at the moment with high demand . I read on another post that somebody tested positive with the throat & nose swab they did the nasal test and it was negative 🤷‍♀️ Mind you my oh had Covid last week and tested positive with the throat & nose test straight away

OP posts:

JanglyBeads · 31/12/2021 21:53

Scientists on Twitter are recommending throat swabs if possible.

I have now achieved this twice with the shorter stick, it wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be.
It's thought to be more accurate because omicron settles in the throat initially, whereas delta was more in the nose.

Original poster

Trixiebell06 · 31/12/2021 21:55

That makes sense janglybeads Thankyou
The only problem is the nhs are only providing nasal testing kits at the moment

OP posts:

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 31/12/2021 21:56

I won't be able to do it if they go back to nose and throat, I'd waste too many tests trying to swab my throat. The nose one is bad enough as it's painful but at least the actual test is easy!

Summerofcontent · 31/12/2021 22:02

This is nose only. The test line appeared before the control line.

I think I may have had it a couple of days

Motorina · 31/12/2021 22:02

I guess you just have to do the best you can with what you have. I'm now swapping both, as I think there's increasing evidence that Omicron is more prevalent in the throat. But I have a relatively quiet gag reflex and don't find it fiddly to do even with the short swabs.

If, for whatever reason, you can't then far better a nose swab alone than no swab at all.

user1471550643 · 31/12/2021 22:10

Hi it was me who tested negative on nose swab then posit on nose and throat , which was confirmed by pcr .. pictures attached .. so throat was more accurate .. unless I made a really rubbish job of the nose only test

Original poster

Trixiebell06 · 01/01/2022 16:40

My teen had her 2nd jab two days ago , today she took the throat/nose swab two red lines straight away , this afternoon she done a nasal test straight away two red lines
I’m not sure if the positive test has anything to do with her covid vaccine

OP posts:

Cookerhood · 01/01/2022 17:47

No it's not possible for the vaccine to affect the test, there is no virus in the vaccine.

Original poster

Trixiebell06 · 01/01/2022 18:25

It’s probably unlucky that she’s positive , she isn’t unwell atall thank goodness and may it continue 🙏

OP posts:

Motorina · 01/01/2022 18:27

Not possible for the vaccine to trigger a positive test. The vaccine generates spike proteins only. The test checks for one of the proteins in the heart of the virus.

Rotten luck, but glad she's well.

Postdatedpandemic · 01/01/2022 18:37

The scientific paper www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.12.22.21268246v1

Nasal swabs are best for Delta
The positive percent agreement (PPA) of saliva swabs and mid-turbinate swabs to a composite standard was 71% (95% CI: 53-84%) and 100% (95% CI: 89-100%), respectively, for the Delta variant.

Throat swabs are best for Omicron
However, for the Omicron variant saliva and mid-turbinate swabs had a 100% (95% CI: 90-100%) and 86% (95% CI: 71-94%) PPA, respectively.

Thought to be because Omicron hangs out and multiplies in the upper respiratory system

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