Lateral flow tests are of upmost importance at the minute but many tests come back void.
As the Omicron variant of covid surges through the UK, more and more people have been trying to get tested for the virus, but what should they do if they receive a void result?
As well as supply issues, there has been issues with people not using the tests properly.
READ MORE: Most common questions about negative lateral flow tests answered
The Government advises that when you use a home testing kit, you should report every result you get - whether that be positive, negative or an inconclusive result.
Reporting every result is important as it helps to give a more accurate view of covid cases across your region, as well as ensuring people who have yet to receive both doses of the vaccine are able to access venues such as concerts and nightclubs with their covid pass.
My test was void - do I have covid?
The government guidance states: "If your test sample could not be read or you got a void result, it's not possible to say if you had coronavirus (COVID-19) when the test was done."
What to do if my test was void?
What you need to do depends on the type of test you had.
If you had the test because you're going into hospital, you may not need another test. Contact the hospital to find out what to do.
PCR
If you had a PCR test (test that was sent to a lab) and your sample could not be read, you'll usually need to get another test as soon as possible.
Self-isolate until you get the result of the 2nd test if:
- you had a test because you had symptoms
- you're in quarantine because you've recently travelled to England from abroad
If you had the test because you have symptoms, anyone you live with may also need to self-isolate.
You may also need to self-isolate until the result of the 2nd test if someone you live with has tested positive or has symptoms and has not had a test yet.
Lateral Flow
If you did a rapid lateral flow test and your result was void, do another test as soon as possible.
You can do another home test if you have one.
Otherwise, go back to where you had your test before or get a PCR test to check if you have COVID-19 on GOV.UK.
Reasons a test may be void
It is understood that there are various reasons for which a test could come back as void. These include:
- the use of an expired test kit
- missing barcodes
- samples that arrive later than the five-day validation period
- damaged or leaking tubes
- problems with data processing and analysis
- not washing hands before testing
UKHSA did indicate that, as the pandemic has progressed, there has been an uptick in the number of tests taken using expired kits that may have been kept in citizens’ homes for some time. In these cases, a void result is recorded before the processing of the sample has even begun.
Though this seems more likely to apply to lateral flow tests, which can be ordered or picked up in multiple packs of seven, rather than PCR tests, which are sent out one at a time, for immediate use.
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