Drive - through test centres

Thank you MawB .

Its like a pap/smear test. It needs to dislodge positive cells from the right place or else it'll give a false negative

He can have a home test but they are less likely to be accurate.

If you dont gag the test didnt go down far enough or rough enough to get enough cells.

Its hard to make yourself gag.

So more likely to be a false negative if you do it on yourself

If he knew which test centre he would be going to, presumably they would have details online?
It all seems very patchy information about tests, though.

Sorry , obviously only if he has symptoms , not otherwise !

It’s the ‘ drive-through ‘ I was questioning - hence asking if he would be able to walk through .

I can have a test if it's within three days of the start of symptoms, and if I can go in a car. So...

The tests only work in the early days of being symptomatic.

It doesnt mean you havent had it or you wont get it

You have to have cells in your airway with altered RNA for a positive.

You can have it and have a negative test

Testing well people this way would be pointless. It gives no useful information outside of the early symptom window

Similarly if your partner has a temperature you can get a test so you dont need to be off 14 days for no reason

Its to get people back to work!

If you have a non covid temperature you have to stay off a whole 7 days even if you feel better on day 3. If youre tested you can go back yo work.

There is no other reason to test

I understood it was only if you or a member of your household has symptoms.

If theyre off sick!

Otherwise, why?

No, I thought key workers, NHS staff etc could request a test?

Some pharmacies will be testing soon. Key workers a priority I'm assuming.

Otherwise its pointless.

It is to test people who are off work sick so they dont have to stay off the full 7 days if they feel better sooner

Still only if he is actually sick

He could apply for a home test (courier delivered)

Is he off work sick?