After a recent change in the way lateral flow tests are used, experts are maintaining that people should continue to carry out a throat swab, even with 'nose only' kits.
When the kits were first launched, to test yourself, you had to insert the long swab to the back of your throat as well as up your nose. Now, just a nose swab is required.
Experts have warned that both tests may still need to be included for a more guaranteed result, as Covid-19 may originate from the throat area before your nose.
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At the moment people travelling to see family for the holidays all over Scotland are relying on lateral flow tests identify if they have Covid to try and prevent them spreading the disease to their families.
However may experts have expressed real concerns about how we are currently managing risk around the virus. WalesOnline have reported on how those tracking the most common symptoms believe that the omicron variant is more likely to produce the symptoms of a cold early on as opposed to a fever and loss of taste and smell.
There are also concerns about how people are using lateral flow tests.
Professor Jennifer Rhon, cell biologist at UCL, posted a picture of a positive lateral flow test on Twitter saying: "Well, there it is. Today, with the “wrong” (i.e. cold) symptoms and after a string of negative LFTs, I finally took Twitter advice and swabbed my throat as well as my nose (no mean feat with that diddly stick). If you think you might have Covid, consider adding the throat sample."
The reason adding a throat swab is important was explained by Dr Michael Mina who was an assistant professor of epidemiology at Harvard. He said: "Symptoms are starting very early with omicron. This means that there is a chance the virus isn't yet growing in the nose when you first test [as the] virus may start further down. Throat swab + nasal may improve chances a swab picks up virus."
Speaking previously on Radio 4, Professor Tim Spector who helped found the Covid Zoe app said the “majority of symptoms” of the Omicron variant are like a common cold, including headaches, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue and sneezing.
Scotland is now, due to Omicron, reaching the heights of around 7000 cases each day, with figures only certain to rise as a result of the Christmas holidays.
