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Coronavirus: What tests are being done in the UK? Coronavirus: Am I eligible for a test?
(4 days later)
Staff and residents in elder care homes will start receiving regular coronavirus tests from the week of 6 July. Anyone with symptoms can apply for a test to see if they have coronavirus.
People working or living in care homes have been able to be tested even if they don't have symptoms since the end of April - but not routinely. Getting tested - and then tracing people's contacts - is considered vital to enable health experts to contain local outbreaks.
Anyone in the wider public with symptoms should now apply for a test - vital if the contacts of positive cases are to be traced and local outbreaks contained.
Can I get tested?Can I get tested?
Tests are now available to all adults and most children in the UK with a fever, a new continuous cough or a loss of smell or taste.Tests are now available to all adults and most children in the UK with a fever, a new continuous cough or a loss of smell or taste.
In England and Wales you can apply for a swab test for yourself, or for anyone in your household, if you or they have symptomsIn England and Wales you can apply for a swab test for yourself, or for anyone in your household, if you or they have symptoms
In Northern Ireland and Scotland anyone over the age of five with symptoms can get tested.In Northern Ireland and Scotland anyone over the age of five with symptoms can get tested.
The tests are generally the same for children and adults.The tests are generally the same for children and adults.
How does the test work?
This test to see if you currently have the virus involves taking a swab up the nose and the back of the throat.
This can be done by the person themselves or someone else.
But these tests won't show if you have had Covid-19 in the past.
Antibody tests - which do look for evidence of past exposure - use blood samples.
The UK now has capacity for about 80,000 antibody tests a day, but these are only offered to health and care staff and should only be carried out by a healthcare professional.
They are also used to test random samples of people to estimate the level of exposure across the country.
Why is testing important?Why is testing important?
Testing is essential if contact-tracing systems now in place across the UK are to work effectively, help stop the spread of the virus and avoid the need for UK-wide lockdowns.Testing is essential if contact-tracing systems now in place across the UK are to work effectively, help stop the spread of the virus and avoid the need for UK-wide lockdowns.
And in theory it can help people, including NHS workers, know whether they are safe to go to work.And in theory it can help people, including NHS workers, know whether they are safe to go to work.
Representatives of hospital trusts and care home providers say staff need to be tested regularly, not as a one-off, to ensure this.
This is now being rolled out for care homes for the over-65s, and younger care home residents with dementia.
But a letter sent to hospital bosses indicated this is not the current plan for NHS staff.
Testing can also let the health service plan for extra demand, and inform government decisions around social distancing.Testing can also let the health service plan for extra demand, and inform government decisions around social distancing.
What is contact tracing? Is testing different for those in care homes?
People who test positive for Covid-19 will be told to self-isolate for seven days - and their recent close contacts will be traced and told to isolate for 14 days, even if they don't have symptoms. Staff and residents in care homes will start receiving regular coronavirus tests from the week of 6 July.
Close contacts include household members and anyone who has been within 2m (6ft) of the positive person for more than 15 minutes. People working or living in care homes have been able to be tested even if they don't have symptoms since the end of April - but not routinely.
Read more about contact tracing in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. There have been calls for hospital staff to also be routinely tested regularly, but a letter sent to hospital bosses indicated this is not the current plan for NHS staff.
How reliable are the tests?How reliable are the tests?
Scientists at the University of Bristol believe 20% of positive cases could falsely appear as negative, wrongly telling someone they are not infected.Scientists at the University of Bristol believe 20% of positive cases could falsely appear as negative, wrongly telling someone they are not infected.
This can be because the swab sample wasn't good enough, the stage of infection someone's at when tested, or problems in the lab.This can be because the swab sample wasn't good enough, the stage of infection someone's at when tested, or problems in the lab.
The Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA), which represents hospital doctors, has called for NHS staff to be tested more than once.The Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA), which represents hospital doctors, has called for NHS staff to be tested more than once.
How does the test work?
The test finds out if you currently have the virus.
It involves taking a swab up the nose and the back of the throat, which can be done by the person themselves or someone else.
These tests won't show if you have had Covid-19 in the past.
Antibody tests - which do look for evidence of past exposure - use blood samples.
The UK now has capacity for about 80,000 antibody tests a day, but these are only offered to health and care staff. They're also used to test random samples of people to estimate the level of exposure across the country.
How long does it take to get a result?How long does it take to get a result?
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged tests would be processed within 24 hours by the end of June, except where there were difficulties with the post.Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged tests would be processed within 24 hours by the end of June, except where there were difficulties with the post.
But, despite the deadline having passed, these figures are not being routinely published. But data up to 24 June showed four in 10 tests done by mobile units and three in 10 carried out at regional drive-thru centres were taking longer than that.
Health Select Committee chairman Jeremy Hunt wrote to the government on 26 June asking for it to publish figures on how many coronavirus tests are being processed within 24 hours.
Speed is important because delays give the virus more time to spread.Speed is important because delays give the virus more time to spread.
How many tests are being carried out?How many tests are being carried out?
On 2 July, 252,084 tests were provided, including antibody tests and testing kits posted out to homes - some of which may never be returned. The total capacity for the number of tests that can be done each day is now close to 300,000.
It also includes tests carried out as part of a surveillance study by the Office for National Statistics, which don't serve the purpose of diagnosing individuals. But this includes kits posted out to homes - some of which may never be returned - as well as those carried out at drive-thru centres.
During the coronavirus epidemic, the government has been challenged over its testing capacity and the data presented at daily briefings. The total also counts antibody tests and those carried out as part of a surveillance study by the Office for National Statistics, designed to give an idea of how many people have Covid-19, with and without symptoms, in the community.
For example, on 7 June, Matt Hancock announced the UK had exceeded its target to increase coronavirus testing capacity to 200,000 a day by the end of May. During the coronavirus epidemic, the government has been challenged over its testing capacity and the data it has presented.
But only about 115,000 tests were actually carried out in the 24 hours to 09:00 BST that day. The government has now changed the way it sets out testing data.
The chairman of the UK Statistics Authority criticised the presentation of the daily figures, saying they appeared to be aimed at showing "the largest possible number of tests, even at the expense of understanding".
They also don't reflect the number of people tested, because some people are tested more than once. That might be to prove they no longer have Covid-19, or because a negative result appears incorrect given their symptoms, or because the first test didn't work.
A government spokesperson said it was working with statisticians and that the approach throughout had been to "increase transparency".
Where do I get tested?Where do I get tested?
There are several options.There are several options.
You can travel to a drive-through testing site, visit a mobile testing unit or get a home testing kit delivered.You can travel to a drive-through testing site, visit a mobile testing unit or get a home testing kit delivered.
Testing at an NHS facility, such as a hospital, is available for patients and some NHS workers.Testing at an NHS facility, such as a hospital, is available for patients and some NHS workers.
What is contact tracing?
Once someone tests positive for Covid-19, they will be told to self-isolate for seven days - and their recent close contacts will be traced and told to isolate for 14 days by their nation's test and trace service, even if they don't have symptoms.
Close contacts include household members and anyone who has been within 2m (6ft) of the positive person for more than 15 minutes.
Read more about contact tracing in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
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What do I need to know about the coronavirus?What do I need to know about the coronavirus?
Have you been tested? Or are you waiting for a test?Have you been tested? Or are you waiting for a test?
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist about your experience.Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist about your experience.
Or use the form below:Or use the form below: