Lateral Flow Testing

WHO CAN GET LATERAL FLOW TESTING?

Everybody in England can now access free, regular and rapid Covid Testing in England. You should where possible take up Lateral Flow Testing to keep yourself and others safe and lower the risk of Infection.

WHY SHOULD I COMPLETE A LATERAL FLOW TEST?

Lateral Flow Testing has been approved by the UK Government to be effective in stopping the spread of Covid-19. By completing twice weekly rapid covid testing you will be helping to protect yourself, family and friends, Isolate quickly if you have Covid-19 and help to trace your contacts and stop an outbreak of Covid-19. Did you know a study completed by the ONS (Official for National Statistics), released on 8th April 2021 showed that 53% of people who had a "Strong" positive test for coronavirus reported having no symptoms, compared to 47% who did. If everybody takes up twice weekly Lateral Flow Testing then these 53% of people with no symptoms can stop asymptomatic spreading in its tracks. (View source here)

Lateral Flow Testing is also a painless, quick and non-invasive test, similar to completing a pregnancy or rapid HIV test which does not require you to visit a test centre nor any help to complete the test.

WHERE CAN I GET A LATERAL FLOW TEST?

• a home ordering service, which allows people to order lateral flow tests online to be delivered to their home

• workplace testing programmes, on-site or at home

• community testing, offered by all local authorities

• collection at a local PCR test site during specific test collection time windows

• testing on-site at schools and colleges

A new ‘Pharmacy Collect’ service is also launching which will provide an additional route to regular testing. People aged over 18 without symptoms will be able to visit a participating local pharmacy and collect a box of 7 rapid tests to use twice a week at home.

You can find a full, up to date list of places to collect test kits here. Use the filters to find "Pick up test kit" sites.

At the time of writing (8th April 2021), the main sites around Stockport to collect Rapid Flow Test kits are:

• Marple (Carpark behind iceland)

• Hazel Grove Library

• Heatons Library

• Reddish Library

• Fred Perry House (Citizens Advice Bureau)

• New Mills Adult Education Centre

Check the full list before visiting and remember to check the opening times of these centres. You can also get home delivery by using the gov.uk website or phoning 119.

HOW TO COMPLETE A LATERAL FLOW TEST

Lateral flow tests are easy to complete and take around 5 minutes, followed by a 30 minute period while you wait for the result. They usually involve swabbing either the throat, nose or both. Inside each box of Lateral Flow Tests is an instruction guide, make sure you follow this guide as best as possible for an accurate result. Make sure to only swab the areas which the booklet tells you too e.g. If you are swabbing your tonsils, ensure the swab does not touch anywhere else within your mouth.

HOW TO REGISTER A RESULT

You can report a result here: https://www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result or phone 119. Ensure you follow the instructions carefully and accurately such as the test kit number. Depending on whether you test negative or positive follow the instructions from the reporting page, follow up text and email. If you test positive isolate immediately.

CAN I FIND OUT MORE

Visit gov.uk/coronavirus for more information.