COVID Lateral Flow Testing
Regular COVID home testing for asymptomatic staff
To help minimise COVID infection rates and keep staff and patients safe, the government have launched Lateral Flow self-testing kits for healthcare staff.
It’s quick and easy, and involves self-testing from home twice a week using a nasal swab and hand-held rapid test strip. Results are ready in only 30 minutes.
Lateral Flow Testing servce changes
Since July 2021 Lateral Flow Devices for staff were no longer provided to NHS Organisations for use by staff. CHCP have been using previous stock to distribute to its staff which has now come to an end. This means that, moving forward, staff will replenish their tests by ordering a box online from https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests to be sent to them at home.
When placing your first order we recommend that you create an account; this takes two minutes and is then quicker because your details are saved for next time. (This uses NHS login, which you may already have if you use the NHS App).
To ensure the tests are registered as belonging to an NHS member of staff, when ordering your own tests you should select ‘other commissioner service by NHS England’ and use the CHCP Headquarters postcode ‘HU3 4AE’
A box of seven tests should arrive within two days to your home address. The box will also contain instructions on how to take the test (please read this as they may differ from how you are currently testing) and instructions on how to report each result to the NHS. Please do not report your test result to the NHS) but continue to test as prompted and report your results into CHCP InHealthCare.
CHCP has chosen to continue with their internal method of reporting results as per current practice through InHealthCare and will receive management information from NHS Test and Trace to help them to understand what proportion of their staff has ordered tests.
Asymptomatic staff testing is an important component of Infection Prevention and Control, which all NHS organisations and staff have a duty to adhere to. We are grateful for your continued efforts to keep staff and patients safe from potential transmission of COVID-19 in healthcare settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
| What type of test are we rolling out? | The Innova SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Qualitative Test. |
| What is the specificity and sensitivity of this test? |
The government has published its latest research on these tests: |
| Is the test mandatory or voluntary? |
Testing is voluntary, but staff are strongly encouraged to take part to help keep their workplace safe for patients, visitors and all their colleagues. |
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How do I register to take part and receive my Lateral Flow Test Kits? |
All patient facing staff (clinical and non-clinical) are eligible. If you want to take part please contact OccWellbeing at chcp.occwellbeingtempinbox@nhs.net |
| How frequently should I be tested? | Staff will be prompted by email or text to test themselves twice weekly every three to four days for example, Wednesday and Sunday, or Monday and Thursday. Staff should perform the test ONLY IF ASYMPTOAMTIC before attending work but allowing enough time for managers to arrange cover for any absence in the event of a positive result for example test at night for an early or day shift, testing in the morning for late or night shift. |
| Do I need to test when I am on annual leave or sick leave? | You should continue test if taking leave for a week or less. People taking annual leave or sick leave for over a week will be able to manually pause the testing regime in the IT System: Select NO to ‘Are you able to complete your test’ and this will prompt you for a date to restart testing. |
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Are there instructions for self-testing? |
A box of seven tests should arrive within two days to your home address. The box will also contain instructions on how to take the test (please read this as they may differ from how you are currently testing). CHCP can offer staff access to support/further training if required. |
| Something I my box of kits is damaged/broken/missing |
Any problems or concerns with the test cartridge or buffer solution should be reported to MHRA https://coronavirus-yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/about. |
| How do I read my results? | You must leave your test kit for the full development time of 30 minutes to get an accurate result. DO NOT read your result until 30 minutes. If the test is left to develop longer than 30 minutes you may receive a false positive result and you will need to record the test in the IT System as invalid and repeat the test. |
| What happens if I get a positive result? | You should record your positive result into the IT System and inform your manager of a positive result in the usual way. A confirmatory PCR test will be arranged at Castle Hill Hospital. You and your household should isolate as set out in government guidance. |
| What happens if I have a positive Lateral Flow Test and then a negative PCR test? |
If you have a PCR test following a positive LFD test, and the result is negative, you and your household can stop isolating and you can return to work if asymptomatic.
Latest government advice: |
| What happens if my LFT is negative? | You should record your negative result into the IT System and test again in 3 or 4 days when next prompted. |
| What happens if my test is negative, but I have coronavirus symptoms? | If you have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, request a PCR test in the usual way through your manager. If you test positive from this PCR test then manually pause the testing in the IT System. |
| What if my test is invalid? | Staff should record their invalid result into the IT System and repeat the test with a new kit. |
| What if I test positive on my PCR test? | If your PCR test is positive you DO NOT need to self-test using the lateral flow test for 90 days. You should input your result into the IT System, which will pause any future reminders to test for the next 90 days. You and your household should continue to isolate as set out in government guidance. Your manager should complete a risk assessment with you to establish where there has been any contact with patients or work colleagues. |
| How should I store my tests at home? | Tests can be stored at normal household temperatures between 2C and 30C and should be kept out of direct unlight and not exposed to heat. Tests should be kept out of the reach of children; if the buffer solution is accidently ingested it is not hazardous but medical advice should be sought. |
| What should I do with the used tests? | You can safely dispose of the test items in your normal household waste but pour any residual buffer solution away first. |
| At what stage is NHS Test and Trace informed of the result? | At the point the confirmatory PCR test result is known, and this is positive, test results will, as normal, be referred to Test and Trace by the testing laboratory. |
| If a staff member has a positive PCR COVID-19 test, when should they start the lateral flow antigen tests again? | A staff member who tested positive would start home testing again 90 days after their positive test was taken. The IT system will automatically remind you when retesting should start. |
| If staff are already regularly being tested through existing regimes; for example, care homes, should this be replaced with lateral flow testing? | If staff are already enrolled in another testing regime through their NHS organisation, this should not be replaced by the lateral flow tests unless agreed by your organisation. |
| I am part of a research study; do I need to undertake lateral flow testing as well? | If you are participating in research studies where the frequency of testing is not weekly (for example fortnightly / monthly) you should also undertake twice-weekly LFD self-testing if you are patient-facing. |
| Can these tests be used for symptomatic family members? | No, there are only sufficient volumes of the lateral flow kits for patient facing staff. Family members who have symptoms should access tests in the normal way. www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test |
| Will lateral flow testing mean that I do not need to self-isolate if I have been exposed to a positive COVID-19 case? | Government self-isolation advice should be always followed. This test does not remove the need to self-isolate should you need to. |
| Is there any prioritisation of which staff this should be rolled out to first? | CHCP has prioritised the bedded areas but there are sufficient volumes of the lateral flow kits to enable all patient facing colleagues to commence testing. |
| Should I continue testing after I have had the vaccine? | Yes, continue to test even though you have had the vaccine. |
