Care homes are now able to use lateral flow testing (LFT) with staff as part of the routine testing programme.
Staff are advised to have a LFT test twice a week, and a PCR test once per week.
It was suggested to complete the first LFT and PCR test on a Monday each week, and the second LFT on Thursday/Friday of the same week.
Any staff member with a positive LFT result must isolate immediately and organise a PCR test to confirm. If the PCR test result comes back as negative, the staff member can return to work. If the PCR is positive the staff member must complete 10 days isolation, and come out of isolation on the 11th day. They can return to work on or after the 11th day so long as they are well enough to do so.
A care home detecting a positive case should implement 7 day LFT testing for staff only. LFT's should not be used on care home residents for either routine testing or during an outbreak. If you are concerned about the covid status of a resident during an outbreak, the health protection swabs should be used and until the result is returned you should treat that resident as positive for covid, isolate them and cohort until a result is returned.
Care home staff are now able to do their own Lateral Flow Device (LFDs) test. This means staff are now able to take and register their twice weekly LFD tests at home, before they arrive at the care home to start work. There is self-test guidance available for staff, see self test guidance (PDF).
If you have enough LFD tests to be able to provide each care home staff member with a box of 25 LFD tests, you can start this process.
Care homes will only be able to access whole home testing once.
For homes that have accessed the portal, it's important that any swabs taken are collected by the courier within 48 hours and are kept at room temperature during this time.
If you think your care home has a coronavirus outbreak but no one has been tested yet, contact the Local Health Protection team on 0300 303 8596 (option 1). They will carry out the first tests. When you have applied, you will get an email telling you when the tests will be delivered.
The test involves taking a swab of the inside of your resident or staff member's nose and the back of their throat, using a long cotton bud.
If you have any problems with the online portal, contact the helpline on 0300 303 2713.
Lines are open from 7am to 11pm every day.
