Lateral Flow Test Guide

You might have been asked to take a lateral flow test, to go to university, attend social events or to travel in the UK. If you are living in Leeds, I recommend taking the test at Cormer Terrace Studio where the university offers free tests. To take a test, simply book your place online! If you have taken more than 3 tests or you live far from campus, you can get a home test kit and take the test at home. Taking a test can sound intimidating, but here I give you a step-by-step guidance on how you can take the test and report your results from home.

Step 1: Get the lateral flow test kit. You can get this kit anywhere but if you are living near campus, Terrace Studio is the easiest place to get it. It is open 9am-2pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It is also open 1pm-6pm on Tuesday and Thursday. You can also enter a town, city or postcode to find the nearest place you can collect the test kits. The kit is also free! The content of the kit is as shown in the picture.

Step 2: Once you have your kit, disinfect the surface area (table or desk) and wash your hands thoroughly before you begin.

Step 3: Break the little container and pour in the liquid into the container and insert it into the box.

Step 4: Blow your nose and wash your hands thoroughly.
Step 5: Take the swab out and be careful not to touch the soft tip of it. Insert the swab inside your mouth and tap it to the back of your mouth four times. Next, insert the swab inside your nose until you feel resistance and twist it 15 times. A video demonstration may be useful to watch to see where to use the swab.
Step 6: Put the swab into the liquid and twist it for 10 times. Tap the excess liquid off the swab as you carefully take it out.
Step 7: Put the cap on the bottle and pour the liquid into the plastic plate where it says S.

Step 8: Wait 30 minutes for the result. You should see a purple line forming near the “C”. If you see a line next to the “C” only like the picture, that means you tested negative. If you have two lines, one next to "C" and one next to "T", that means you tested positive.

Step 9: Now that you have the results, you need to report your results online. Go to the UK government website and report your results. You will need to do this regardless of the result, so you should report it even if you tested negative.

If you tested negative, that is great news! But these tests are not perfect, so make sure you keep vigilant.
If you tested positive, then you and anyone you live with needs to self-isolate. You should take a PCR test which will be sent to a lab.

I hope this has been helpful, stay safe!