LFTs - have received the older type / nose and throat swab

[Crunchymum]

Anyone else?

I'm currently testing x4 people a day (close contact, x1of us is +) and most of them are children.

Is there any way to ensure they send the nasal only? Can I use the throat and nose for nose only (I've been allowed to do this for actual PCR tests, at the centre, as children are small)

Us too. I think it's because of contracting. seems to be a postcode lottery as to which type you get.

Yes.

I’ve ordered a few packs this last couple of weeks as we have covid in the house. It seems it’s all they have. Also picked some up from chemist - same story.

We do them nasally on the kids and they seem to work - have a positive result (though very faint) on my 6YO’s day 9 test this week though the one the day before was negative so 🤷🏻‍♀️

And my DD does nose only with them, but does both nostrils as she said the Instructions say throat and one nostril.

We were getting the nasal ones at the start of last week though but then it changed part way through.

@SomewhereOnlyIKnow

And my DD does nose only with them, but does both nostrils as she said the Instructions say throat and one nostril.

Yes, we do both nostrils when doing nose only.

Yes, last couple of packets have been the old style, DD also brought that type home from school.

The instructions clearly say you can swab both nostrils.

I picked some of the older style up from a chemist yesterday and when I was in a different one in the week they too were handing out the older ones. Flowflex have just arrived in the post.

Someone said on MN recently that Omicron was picked up more readily on throat swabs. May be the reason.

Or they've been left with sooooo many of the dual style and are getting rid before the testing clamour ends.

Me too, just received them this morning after receiving the nose only swabs for months maybe. really struggle to use the throat swab without vomiting 🤮

I have both but we are going to use the nose only (we only need to test until Monday, fingers crossed!)

Yes, arrived yesterday

Same for me, much preferred the nose only. Youngest ds is 10 but he hates the throat ones, I don't know how parents do them on younger children.

The instructions clearly say you can do both nostrils if you can't swab the throat

@dementedpixie

The instructions clearly say you can do both nostrils if you can't swab the throat

I have to confess to not seeing this.

I just used the old style on my 2 year old, just used it up her nose. Strong positive so it does work.

The nasal and nose swab is more likely to pick up omicron earlier than the nose swabs but you can still just swab the noses of children with either type.

They're working with just nostrils for my youngest. Perhaps not quite as sensitive but I don't get to do the full swab anyway.

I'm up to 4 different types; a mix from work (green, flow flex and blue nhs) and also some our relatives dropped off as they've had it. I think from a pharmacy. Pink ones.

You can just swab both nostrils, but you're likely to get a more accurate result on any LFD test if you can do the throat as well.

The nose and throat LFD kits have a swab that's more like a tiny brush, which I suspect is better suited to swabbing the tonsils, and less suited to nostrils. The nostril specific LFD tests usually have a swab that's more like a cotton bud, which is probably more optimal for taking a nose swab.

What is the most annoying is that they all have different methods when the swap goes in the vial. One I did this morning didn't have enough liquid in.

Same. Really annoying as they take longer and I find it hard to open the buffer solution

I’ve wasted so many of the old ones because there’s just not enough liquid in the little tubes!

If it helps, we found the throat and nose ones to work fine when just giving a light brush around the roof of the mouth towards the back rather than going all the way back. Then just gently round the outer part of the nostril. It picked up the positives well. So maybe the throat ones will be more workable for you like that? If you just brush the roof of the mouth?

Yes I have no problem doing my nose and throat but then it’s really difficult to get enough liquid to put into the test.

You have to squeeze the swab with the side of the test tube thing to get all the liquid out the swab. Only need 2 drops for the nose/throat ones