What is the shelf life of the extraction (buffer) solution once opened? What happens if the buffer solution is accidentally consumed?Īs set out in the manufacturer’s safety instructions, the buffer solution is not hazardous however, if accidentally ingested, a medical practitioner should be informed. Staff can safely dispose of the test items in their normal household waste but should pour any residual buffer solution away first. What should staff do with the used tests? Staff should continue to isolate until they have the results of the PCR test.

These processes assume that staff may be infected with COVID-19 and therefore suitable IPC and PPE will be in place.

Trusts should use their normal processes to access tests for staff members who have symptoms of COVID-19, whether that be through pillar 1 or 2. Are we asking potentially positive staff to come to hospitals for a confirmatory PCR test? If you have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, please refer to NHS guidance online. What happens if my test is negative, but I have coronavirus symptoms? They and their household should isolate as set out in government guidance. A confirmatory PCR test will be arranged. Staff should inform their manager of a positive result trust in the normal way. What happens if staff get a positive result? The staff member will need to liaise with their NHS organisations to track the date at which the retesting should start. If a staff member has a positive PCR COVID-19 test, when should they start the lateral flow antigen tests again?Ī staff member who tested positive would recommence home testing 90 days after their positive test was taken. Yes, continue to test even though you have had the vaccine. Should I continue testing after I’ve had the vaccine? Staff should test themselves twice weekly every three to four days to fit with shift patterns and leave requirements for example, Wednesday and Sunday, or Monday and Thursday. Tests are voluntary, but staff should be encouraged to be involved in the testing to benefit their colleagues and patients. The government has published its latest research on these tests. What is the specificity and sensitivity of this particular test? You then take the extraction tube with the nozzle cap and place 2 drops of extraction fluid into the sample well of the LFD testing device cartridge and wait for the results on the test device. The swab is inserted into the extraction tube with the extraction fluid and then rotated and pressed to make sure that the sample from the swab is released into the extraction fluid (swab is then discarded at this point). The Innova SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Qualitative Test uses a swab which has been in contact with the nostril of the person being tested. For all questions on HR processes following a positive test and related isolation questions, please refer to NHS Employers’ FAQs on asymptomatic staff testing. These are the specific FAQs related to the lateral flow antigen tests. Updated version 3, 28 January 2021 – Additional questions highlighted in yellow. Publications approval reference: C0913 Lateral flow antigen test FAQs Second wave roll out trusts