Who's doing lateral flows?

[RaspberryCoulis]

Saint Nicola just said we should all be doing 2 lateral flows a week.

I've never done one. Neither has DH. Kids did a couple each then said they didn't want to do any more.

(And why can't she say doSE? It's not doze.)

No, I won't be taking any medical tests unless I'm ill and neither will my children.

Absolutely no chance. Nor DS.

My son (14) does them for school. My primary age son doesn’t and my husband and I work from home, so no real need too. I do however believe that they are an essential part of picking up infections early and minimising the spread for people who are interacting with others on a regular basis.
If we want things to get back to normal, reduce the number of kids self isolating and reduce transmission of the virus this is part of how we make this happen.

I do a LFT every week. Child and DH do it too. We have both had 2 jabs but can't be too careful. It only takes a minute and does not hurt so why wouldn't you?

DD does them for school. I've taken a couple when I've felt a bit dodgy (but not temp/taste/cough symptoms) just out of curiosity. After the first couple of tests for DD though I've not bothered logging the results. I would if it was positive obviously (and get a PCR test)

Yes, I do - once, or twice a week. I don't need to for work (WFH), but it seems like the responsible thing to do. Our main potential route for exposure is DD's nursery, but I won't be testing her, just myself (and DH when he gets round to it). Asymptomatic cases are common, and can transmit, so if we want to be able to live a bit more normally it seems reasonable to expect that we'll all need to continue playing some sort of role in this - the test are free and easy to do. Slightly uncomfortable, but I am finding it gets easier the more I do them.

In future I'll aim to time them before leaving my council area, or seeing family from other areas, given we are in an area with high community transmission of the new variant.

To be honest though I find the communications on this have been dreadful, so I am not surprised so many people are not using them and people also seem to misunderstand what they are for (i.e. they are not to use if you have symptoms, you need a PCR test in that case). As far as I am aware the accuracy is reasonably good so long as it is conducted properly.

It’s really not true that asymptomatic cases are common, nor transmissible. This is the BMJ.

@WouldBeGood

It’s really not true that asymptomatic cases are common, nor transmissible. This is the BMJ.

That article was written in 2020 so will already be out of date. Just because something is published in the BMJ doesn't make it gospel. We still don't really know the true frequency of asymptomatic case, nor how transmissible it is. Research is ongoing. Also even that article estimates that 20% of infections are asymptomatic, which is a significant number if daily UK positives are 3000. It also states that presymptomatic transmission has a role in spread. What is there to distinguish between someone who is asymptomatic and presymptomatic? Surely nothing except hindsight, therefore better to isolate regardless.

Never said it’s gospel. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Life’s too short to live on a “just in case” basis or to test healthy people in my view.

@WouldBeGood Well, you stated it as fact. That's your view, everyone's entitled to an opinion. I happen to disagree. At this stage picking up these asymptomatic/presymptomatic cases in healthy people could prevent or reduce the spread to the people who could get seriously ill. This will then continue to minimise hospitalisations and deaths. I assume (and hope) this is all only until we get our vaccination rates up to a reasonable level and see the impact of full vaccination on hospitalisations and deaths.

The people who could get seriously ill are now vaccinated.

No not one neither has anyone in my family.

@WouldBeGood

The people who could get seriously ill are now vaccinated.

Exactly

The people who could get seriously ill are now vaccinated. wow they really do walk among us. Many people who would be most at risk of serious illness or death are unable to be vaccinated. How can people reach adulthood and be so ignorant.

Well, we can’t stay locked up forever.

@WouldBeGood It's just not true that everyone who could get seriously ill is now vaccinated. There are people in vulnerable categories who've been unable to get or have refused vaccines on medical grounds, religious grounds, etc. Look at what happened in Bolton. We also need to reach the younger age categories too. I'm really hopeful that we are almost through this, but I think there is a way to go and if lateral flow testing can reduce cases and stop any more lockdowns I don't see the issue.

@MyDcAreMarvel

The people who could get seriously ill are now vaccinated. wow they really do walk among us. Many people who would be most at risk of serious illness or death are unable to be vaccinated. How can people reach adulthood and be so ignorant.

That could apply for any number of other illnesses. Do we all lockdown to prevent transmission of those illnesses? Or carry out random testing?

Ultimately it’s unfortunate for anyone who can’t have the vaccine on an individual level that they remain at risk but does it mean it’s proportionate for the rest of society to remain subject to restrictions to protect them?

It’s also not true as the overwhelming risk factor for Covid is age

We have but on Sunday were notified my daughter had been in contact with someone who had tested poistive. We each did two lateral flow tests a couple of hours apart and they were negative. PCR test on Sunday evening came back with a positive test for my daughter on Monday so no idea how effective they actually are!

In real life not Scotsnet I have yet to meet another soul who cares about me invading my tonsils and nostrils twice weekly.

I have a diverse family and social group. Huge range of incomes, political affiliations, careers and ages. Not one person gives a shiny shit about who does or does not take part.

I'm not doing it to keep others locked up so that I can feel safe. I prize my freedom and struggled with lockdown. I use my own judgement regarding what I feel is safe.

I am in environment where asymptomatic transmission to people who then develop symptoms (one young and was in ICU for a fortnight) takes place. This is my lived experience.

I have spoken to experts who I know and trust about my questions regarding false negatives and the reality of asymptomatic transmission. So I am secure in my beliefs and make my decisions accordingly.

I really hope that the next round of rolling out the vaccination means that different ways of measuring are brought in.

But ultimately I have autonomy over my body and health and the choices I make regarding this. Fortunately, in the actual world outside of this tiny wee corner of social media nobody wants to remove that from me for any reason.

@Lidlfix I don’t care who tests as long as cases recorded don’t result in further lockdown.

Like you, I think medical choices are personal.

I’m just getting terrified that more testing =more cases= more lockdown.

Worrying about further lockdowns and taking LFTs are not mutually exclusive.

Let's hope the methods of measurement change and soon.

I do them. I do not always record the results as that takes longer than the test.

I do doubt their accuracy though. I was in contact with 90 teens today so if I had a heads up I was positive I'm sure the families of those 90 young people would prefer me not to be at work.

I've had both doses of the vaccine but still doing lf tests. I don't understand why anyone wouldn't, hardly a big deal.