Testing Yourself For Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Testing yourselffor coronavirus(COVID-19)for people taking acoronavirus test at a GPThis is an easy read guide.1January 2021

Contents1IntroductionPage 32Prepare to testPage 63Throat swabPage 84Nose swabPage 95Pack up your testPage 116Get your test resultsPage 127For more informationPage 142

1 IntroductionThis guide comes from theGovernment’s Department of Healthand Social Care.Please read through this guidecarefully before you do your test.It tells you: what to do when you getyour test kit. how to test yourselffor coronavirus.Coronavirus is an illness that isspreading around the world.Lots of people call it COVID-19.We have a test for coronavirus.You can do the test on yourself.3

CoronavirusYou can have coronavirusand not feel ill.Some people are very ill with it.Coronavirus symptomsYou may get a hightemperature and a cough.You might not be able to tasteor smell things.If you have any coronavirus symptomsyou must isolate and can book a test.4

Isolate means: you must stay in your home. you cannot go near otherpeople, unless they areproviding you with care you cannot go out.5

2Prepare to testThe test is nothing to worry about.It will be very quick and it will nothurt.Clean and dry a surface.Then unpack everything from thetest kit onto it.If you have a runny nose, you willneed to blow your nose with a tissuebefore taking the test. Throw theused tissue in a bin.Before you take the test, wash yourhands with soap and water.6

You will take the test from your throatand your nose using the swab.A swab is like a large cotton bud.You will use the same swab forboth your throat and your nose.If you cannot swab your throat,you can swab both nostrils instead.Open the package and gently takeout the swab, holding it at the stickend.Do not let the tip of the swab touchother surfaces or it could mix up yourresults.7

3Throat swabLook inside your mouth and findyour tonsils. Your tonsils are thesoft parts at the back of yourthroat.You need to open your mouthand stick out your tongue.Say‘ahh’Use the swab to take a samplefrom your throat.4x4xGently rub the swab over thesoft part at the back of yourthroat for 4 times on each side.It may be a bit uncomfortableand may make you gag orcough, but it will not hurt.8

4Nose swabUse the same swab to take asample from your nose. If one ofyour nostrils is pierced, swab theother nostril.Put the swab into your nostril andpush it gently upwards.It will not hurt and it will not gotoo far up.10xGently turn the swab for10 complete circles.This will not hurt but may be a bituncomfortable.If you did not swab your throat,now swab the second nostril.Put the swab into the plastic tube.A plastic tube is a small jar filledwith a little liquid.Make sure the liquid staysin the tube.9

Snap off the stick end of theswab so that it fits into theplastic tube without bending.Screw the lid of the plastic tubeback on tightly and check it is oncorrectly.That is it, well done.Now you need to pack up the testto give it to the staff member.10

5 Pack up your testAn absorbent pad is a smallpiece of soft fabric.Place the plastic tube andabsorbent pad together into theleak-proof bag.The leak-proof bag will havea barcode on it.Let some air out of the bag.Then take the strip off the topof the bag. There is a sticky areaunderneath.Fold this sticky area on to the bagto close it.Give the sealed bag to the staffmember.11

6Get your test resultsYou will not know the test resultsstraight away. It will be sent offto the lab for testing.You will have to wait for your testresults. This may take up to 3days.If you or a person you live withhave any coronavirus symptoms,continue to self-isolate while youwait for your test results.You will get your test results bytext and email.12

If your test result is positive It means that you havecoronavirus.If you also have symptoms, youmust isolate for 10 days fromwhen your symptoms started.If you have not had symptomsyou must isolate for 10 daysfrom when you had the test. If your test result is negativeIt means that the test did notfind coronavirus.You do not need to continueisolating as long as: no one else in your home hassymptoms NHS Test and Trace did nottell you to self-isolate you feel well. If you feelunwell, stay at home untilyou feel better13

7For more informationIf you need more information,please go vingservices-during-coronavirus-covid-19If you have any questions aboutyour coronavirus test please call: 119 if you live in England, Wales orNorthern Ireland 0300 303 2713 if you live inScotlandLines are open 7am to 11pm every day.If you feel worse, or you do not getbetter after 7 days: visit NHS 111 online atwww.111.nhs.uk or call 11114

for coronavirus (COVID-19) for people taking a coronavirus test at a GP This is an easy read guide. January 2021. 2 Contents Introduction Prepare to test Pack up your test Throat swab Get your test results Nose swab For more information Page 3 Page 6 Page Page 9 Page 11 Page 12 7 Page 14 6 5 4 3 2 1. 3 Introduction This guide comes from the Government’s Department of Health and Social Care .