Covid-19 Test Kit

[Barsel]

Have any of you sent off for the kit from the NHS? A friend of mine had a cough and a temperature, so she sent off for a test kit. Apparently you have to book a courier to pick it up from you within a certain time. I think it involved quite a bit of form filling but apart from that, she said it's quite straight forward really.I wonder why you see all the people queuing up in their cars to be tested when you can do it yourself at home?

[Mamyalynne]

Not everyone drives and some may not feel safe or well enough to go out.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/get-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/

[Buenchico]

>>> I wonder why you see all the people queuing up in their cars to be tested when you can do it yourself at home?

Possibly because people want quicker results. Those testing themselves at home have got to wait for the kit to arrive and then face a wait of up to 72 hours for the result. Those booking a slot at a test centre have a shorter initial wait and then only up to 48 hours to find out the result. Further, the availability of home test kits currently remains limited:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested#the-testing-process

[bednobs]

or because they left it too long after experiencing symptoms

[bednobs]

or want to make sure it's done properly

[Cloverjo]

I ordered a test online from the NHS, it was delivered by Amazon next day, sent back by Royal Mail and I had the result within 48 hours.
I don’t know why the gov doesn’t promote this method more, apart from the fact that the government is fairly useless.

[youngmafbog]

Home kits are not ideal, it is most likely most are not doing it properly.

One would expect someone at a testing centre knows where to place the swab.

[Barsel]

Plenty of info here in this video explaining how to do it.

[Barsel]

If you have symptoms I would have thought you may not feel like driving to a test centre as well as not knowing where they are. This home kit sounds like a good alternative and as Cloverjo has said, the results are back within 48hrs and yet I had never heard of it until my friend told me.

[jennyjoan]

I don't really fancy a non-medical person sticking a swab to the back of my throat - from what I have seen on TV - they can stick it too far at the back of the throat. (repeat)

[ummmm]

We were sent a testing kit by the NHS.

[Barsel]

Was it easy to use ummmm?

[ummmm]

Yes. The test wasn't for me, it was for my OH, but as I'd already had the test in hospital I could tell him how far down the throat he had to swab.

[collareddove12]

I had a test in a drive in centre, I had to do it myself, although they do watch you through the car window. My daughter had a home testing one, it was delivered by courier but she had to post it back in one of three designated post boxes near her.

[ElanaWeeks]

In most of the cases people aren't informed so it could be the reason why they don't do this by themselves.

[gingejbee]

I suspect that exactly what happens depends on your location.
We ordered two kits (all online - no "form-filling"), they were delivered next day by Amazon. Booked courier (online...free service), did tests early next day and Royal Mail courier arrived at 9.30am...just 2 hours later. Results received next morning by text.
All very efficient and worthwhile.