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Original poster

How often are you testing your primary school children?

71 replies

NoGoodOptions · 16/01/2022 20:11

Just wondering how often you're testing your asymptomatic primary aged children? Has it changed at all since Christmas/ the New Year? Really curious to know.

OP posts:
Waxonwaxoff0 · 17/01/2022 08:56

Never. I'll test if he has symptoms but I've never done regular LFTs on him.

3WildOnes · 17/01/2022 10:53

I have tested when someone they sit close to or play with regularly has tested positive, when they have had a heavy cold and a couple of times they were asked to test before sleepovers. We also all tested before seeing family at Christmas, except the toddler.

mamaoffourdc · 17/01/2022 10:57

Twice a week

Iggly · 17/01/2022 11:02

We’ve been asked to test daily as dd is classed as a close contact.
Aside from that, only when we’ve wanted to check before a visit or if they’re poorly and we know they’ve been in contact with someone with covid.

The nose only ones are a game changer and it’s not a big deal.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 17/01/2022 11:03

Only over Xmas when I was waiting for an operation. Haven't tested since around boxing day

Ghostlyfeet · 17/01/2022 11:08

All the time she has no symptoms then every Monday morning and if I get advised she's been in contact with someone who has tested positive then the following day.

HeyMicky · 17/01/2022 12:02

Twice a week lateral flows as requested by school. There are several asymptomatic cases picked up each week so the tests are doing what they should.

For those who say they are testing only with symptoms, is that a PCR?

allbartwo · 17/01/2022 12:10

@Iggly

We’ve been asked to test daily as dd is classed as a close contact. Aside from that, only when we’ve wanted to check before a visit or if they’re poorly and we know they’ve been in contact with someone with covid.

The nose only ones are a game changer and it’s not a big deal.

What's the definition of a close contact in school? Anybody in the class?
MissDollyMix · 17/01/2022 12:19

Our primary school have specifically told us we shouldn't be LFD testing on primary age children. I don't regularly test DD, only when we're going to see someone vulnerable. There have been a few asymptomatic cases in her class this week so I did a test on her this weekend out of curiosity (which was negative). Funny though that my 11 year old DS has to test twice a week for secondary school, even though most of his classmates are vaccinated and he has to wear a mask all day. If he was a couple of weeks younger he'd be in year 6 and not have to do any of that...

girafferafferaffe · 17/01/2022 16:01

I'm not and won't. She's traumatised by having pcrs forced on her

Blubells · 17/01/2022 16:03

Are they even meant to be tested regularly?

thewhatsit · 17/01/2022 16:06

I’m not but we will test if the school ask us to because of an outbreak. They haven’t asked and it’s not something I’d do on an asymptomatic child preemptively.

Monkeytiger · 17/01/2022 16:08

I did when they were close contacts of someone, for 7 days. I also tested them before meeting relatives at Christmas. Thankfully, they're OK with it. The school requested the 7 days of tests if they've been in close contact. However, if we're not seeing anyone and not a known contact, I'm not doing them routinely.

TheFishWillSeeYouNow · 17/01/2022 16:09

Only if feverish. So twice in the past two years.

GizmosEveningBath · 17/01/2022 16:12

I have only tested mine (PCR) if they have had symptoms. The only LFTs they have had were to get them out of isolation on day 6 and 7.

I cant imagine testing them regularly. They get so distressed by the tests that I would be worried about harming their mental health.

MarshaBradyo · 17/01/2022 16:13

Only when they had symptoms so a couple of times

firef1y · 17/01/2022 17:36

School wants us to rest him 2xweek normally and 7xweek if there's more than a certain number positive in his class.

I, however, test him maximum once a week, if he asks. I do test myself 2-3x a week though.

I really don't think it's good for anyone to be scraping at their nasal lining so often. Fgs I've spent years telling him not to put anything smaller than his elbow up his nose (think about it) and now all of a sudden I'm supposed to encourage it

Buzzinwithbez · 17/01/2022 17:44

We're not. She's done one test when she was symptomatic to confirm it was covid.

Shmithecat2 · 17/01/2022 17:46

I've never LFTd ds. Once when he had a cough and a temperature, so I took him straight for a PCR test (negative). The head of his school says not to bother unless they've got symptoms.

NotTheGrinchAgain · 17/01/2022 19:08

We are testing my Y6 DD daily except Saturday. Presently a third of her Class are off sick with covid. In the next Class, it's 50%. So basically just a matter of time before she is positive.

Emilyh1986 · 17/01/2022 21:58

Everyday currently. Only because there has been an outbreak in the class and so far 9 out of 17 are off with it. Quite a few asymptomatic ones that wouldn't have known had they not done the daily LFTs

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