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Original poster

How many of you are testing with lateral flows still?

64 replies

LifesTooShortYOLO · 24/01/2022 16:04

Just wondered how many people are still doing weekly or twice weekly testing with lateral flows if your asymptomatic. Not including people who have to for work.
We are due to go abroad in a few months and if everyone feels well and is ok I don't know if I will be doing lateral flows in the weeks beforehand?
How does everyone else feel about this sort of situation if your due to go abroad or away on holiday will you be testing up until you go if you all feel well and risk a potential positive that you would otherwise be non the wiser to?

OP posts:
TalkToTheHand123 · 24/01/2022 16:59

I stopped a week or so ago. Kept thinking I had it, then thinking if I do get it, it will only be for a few days so not worth doing it.

poppy1973 · 24/01/2022 17:04

I tested on lft today and it showed up as positive. I have reported it and nhs online said just to go into self isolation. It is rife in my school where I work so have been testing daily for the last week. I didn't bother with a PCR once the lft tests came through as positive. Registered and reported all contacts, do I need to do a PCR test?

Iggly · 24/01/2022 17:08

@poppy1973

I tested on lft today and it showed up as positive. I have reported it and nhs online said just to go into self isolation. It is rife in my school where I work so have been testing daily for the last week. I didn't bother with a PCR once the lft tests came through as positive. Registered and reported all contacts, do I need to do a PCR test?
I would if you develop symptoms.
charliebear78 · 24/01/2022 17:09

I have a cupboard full of the damn things! School still send Son home with them, no one does them in this house and I am tempted to throw them all out

poppy1973 · 24/01/2022 17:10

I have a bad cold now. Really confused as the NHS email said to just self isolate as I had a positive lateral flow for the next 10 days, unless after day 5 and 6 my lft come back negative. Just really confused about this..

MarshaBradyo · 24/01/2022 17:10

No but I haven’t done this anyway

Iggly · 24/01/2022 17:15

@poppy1973

I have a bad cold now. Really confused as the NHS email said to just self isolate as I had a positive lateral flow for the next 10 days, unless after day 5 and 6 my lft come back negative. Just really confused about this..
Some people need a PCR for their employers to believe their LFT (as you could lie about a LFT result).

So get one if you need one.

I probably would because I just don’t trust LFTs (unless it’s a blazing positive) after dealing with many stressful false positives.

poppy1973 · 24/01/2022 17:18

Hi, no took different types of lft the old and new and they were definitely clear positive results. We have so many in school that have gone down with it, that school haven't asked for proof. Have looked on the gov site just now as it says from 17/01/22 to just self isolate if you get positive PCR and positive lft.

Shieldingending · 24/01/2022 17:20

Testing daily, I teach in a covid ridden school! I was in the shielded group and care for my parents, one of whom is having chemotherapy

ThisTownAintBigEnoughForBoth · 24/01/2022 17:25

Yes, it's an easy and helpful thing to do, I'm happy to keep testing. My friend works in close contact with vulnerable people and had asymptomatic covid which was only picked up by her routine testing. She would have had no idea otherwise and could have infected many with potentially serious results.

JamaicaSq · 24/01/2022 17:26

Yes, I work across many schools. Positive LFT this morning.

DoctorSnortles · 24/01/2022 17:31

I love the title of this thread...as if it's five years down the line and practically no-one uses LFTs, either because it's simply not necessary or because there is another sort of test available. The reality is it is less than a week since the Tories decided to pretend we're no longer in the middle of a pandemic. Everyone I know is still testing regularly, mostly twice a week or before/after certain visits or events.

Whitefire · 24/01/2022 17:32

Not really testing at the moment, but also not going anywhere as ill.

HundredMilesAnHour · 24/01/2022 17:32

I test before meeting people indoors, that includes going to the gym. I've had a cold for the last few weeks so have wanted to be sure it's a cold rather than Covid and not put anyone at risk. So that means I've been testing up to 5 days a week.

I'm flying to the USA in a week and will have to do a supervised lateral flow pre-departure so I will continue to test until then and while I'm in the USA.

MeanderingGently · 24/01/2022 17:34

Yes, I have to test before each shift at work and log it on the online work site, to confirm I'm negative as well as symptom free. I also do a check before seeing relatives etc.

TulipsGarden · 24/01/2022 17:36

We're doing them daily at the moment as my son's just had Covid (close contacts all still clear, phew). Generally I do them before seeing vulnerable people, but we wfh so don't go out that much. If I went into the office it's expected you do one beforehand.

Watsername · 24/01/2022 21:52

Yes. I have been testing daily for a few weeks as I work in a school and children in my class keep testing positive. I was relieved to have finished my last batch of 7 days only to be informed I have to start again today….

WalkingOnSonshine · 24/01/2022 22:09

DH did one today as he woke up feeling a bit off. I need to do one before I’m allowed back in the office after Christmas.

Last time we did them was pre-Christmas. We only take them now if we know we are mixing with vulnerable people.

WhiteJellycat · 24/01/2022 22:14

Only because my son had a positive and he is still in isolation. Once hes had the two negatives I wont test anyone unless we get symptoms. We are family of six so a pack a day isnt sustainable.

Onlyrainbows · 24/01/2022 22:19

No never do... I did on Sunday because we had a few extra tests, had a sore throat, and thought: "why not?"

Topbird29 · 24/01/2022 22:20

2 kids at primary, so testing myself twice a week. Just been asked by older son's year to test him daily as they are having a bit of an outbreak at school. And have been doing ds on morning of swim lesson, or visiting elderly grandparents (77 & 82). Our hols this year are all self catering in UK, so would not affect plans really, and adults both fully vaccinated. Still wearing masks at school pick up until asked not to - school will advise of policy. And prob still wear mask if going somewhere enclosed with lots of people.

applesandpears33 · 24/01/2022 22:22

Yes. I see elderly relatives at least once a week and don't want to pass it on to them.

tigger1001 · 24/01/2022 22:23

We are not testing currently as just had covid and that can show up for some time in both lft and pcr. So unless I have symptoms I won't be testing.

Eldest didn't get it this time, so he's testing twice a week.

Neurodiversitydoctor · 24/01/2022 22:25

Yes twice a week for over a year now. I have done over 200 Covid tests.

LittleMissMoggy · 24/01/2022 22:30

I really don't understand why people wouldn't do them if going out and about. We picked up covid in our household via lft on the first day of very mild symptoms. Helped ensure that we didn't pass onto someone vulnerable, or at the very least just didn't pass onto someone and ruin their plans. Also meant the one with covid isolated and the rest of the house never got it as we took precautions. I just really don't get people...