Assisted Testing For Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Assisted testingfor coronavirus(COVID-19)for people taking acoronavirus test at a GPwith help from the staffThis is an easy read guide.1January 2021

Contents1IntroductionPage 32Prepare to testPage 73Throat swabPage 84Nose swabPage 105Get your test resultsPage 126For more informationPage 142

1 IntroductionThis guide comes from theGovernment’s Department of Healthand Social Care.This is an easy read guide to help youunderstand the coronavirus test.Coronavirus is an illness that isspreading around the world.Lots of people call it COVID-19.We want to know if anyone has caughtcoronavirus.We have a test for coronavirus.We want to test everyone who isshowing symptoms.3

We want to: help you get better stop it spreading to otherpeopleCoronavirusYou can have coronavirusand not feel ill.Some people are very ill with it.4

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.5

Isolate means: you must stay in your home. you cannot go near otherpeople, unless they areproviding you with care you cannot go out.6

2TestingThe test is very quick. It takes up to30 seconds in total.It shouldn’t hurt, but you may feel alittle uncomfortable.We need to take a little bit of theliquid: from your throat, at the back ofyour mouth from the back of your noseA staff member from your doctor’soffice will do the test on you.The staff member will wear anapron, mask and gloves. This is tokeep you safe.7

3Throat swabThe staff member will use aswab to take a sample from yourthroatA swab is like a large cotton bud.A sample is the little bit of liquidthat will go onto the swab.You will need to sit down to betested.Say‘ahh’You need to open your mouthand stick out your tongue.8

The staff member may use atorch to see into your mouth.They may need to gently pressdown on your tongue so they cansee.Say‘ahh’You may have to say ‘Ahhhhhh’until the staff member saysthey are finished.The staff member will gentlyrub the swab at the back of yourmouth.You may feel like gagging orcoughing. It will not hurt, but youmay feel a little uncomfortable.9

4Nose swabThe staff member will use thesame swab to take a sample fromyour nose.If you have a runny nose, youshould blow your nose with atissue before the test.You will need to sit down to betested.The staff member will put theswab into your nose and push itgently upwards. It will not go toofar up and it should not hurt.10

The staff member will gentlyturn the swab. This should nothurt, but you may feel a littleuncomfortable.That’s it. Well done, you’vefinished the test.11

5Get 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

6For 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 with help from the staff This is an easy read guide. January 2021. 2 Contents Introduction Prepare to test Throat swab Get your test results Nose swab For more information Page 3 Page 7 Page Page 10 Page 12 6 Page 14 5 4 3 2 1. 3 Introduction This guide comes from the Government’s Department of Health and Social Care .