Lateral Flow Tests at the start of the spring term

We will be offering Lateral Flow Tests in January in the sports hall at the SportsPark on Whiteknights campus. For availability and to book a test visit our booking page.

All students are strongly encouraged to book two Lateral Flow Tests, three days apart, when you travel back to campus. If you have stayed in Reading for the Christmas break you should also book tests. The only exceptions are:

if you have returned/arrived in the UK from overseas, as you will need to self-isolate for 10 days or use the government ‘Test to release’ scheme;
if you are self-isolating due to having symptoms, testing positive, or having had close contact with someone who tested positive;

if you have received a positive COVID-19 test result in the last 90 days.

If you do not wish to take a Lateral Flow Test on your return the government recommends that you instead self-isolate for 10 days.

Given the delay in the return of many students and colleagues to campus, we will be reviewing these arrangements and are likely to extend the dates once we have more detailed guidance from the Department for Education.

Please note: If you are already showing any of the main symptoms of COVID-19 – a high temperature, new continuous cough or a loss/change of your sense of taste or smell, you should let us know so we can support you and book a PCR test through the national NHS testing system.

If you have any other questions, please contact our COVID-19 support line on 0118 214 7813 from 9.15am to 4.30pm on weekdays.

Who is eligible to take the test?

• You must be a current University of Reading student
• You must be 16 years of age or over
• You must not be displaying any of the main symptoms of COVID-19 (a high temperature, a new continuous cough, or a loss/change to you sense of taste/smell)
• You must read and understand the privacy information
• You must consent to participation in the test programme.

How do I book a test?

You can book your test using our online booking system for:

• a student rapid test for students who do not have any accessibility requirements
• an accessible or supported test for students who may need extra assistance or space to take a test, or who need to request adjustments because of a disability.

The government recommends that you take two tests, three days apart (please note if your first test is positive, your second test will need to be a PCR test booked through the national NHS system, not a Lateral Flow Test). Please see below for further information about what happens after you have taken a test.

You can book your two Lateral Flow Tests three days apart at the same time, but you must remember to cancel your second test if you no longer require it nearer the time.

What should I expect when I arrive?

The whole process – from arriving, to taking the test, to leaving – should take no more than 20 minutes, or 30 minutes if you have booked an accessible or supported appointment. Just follow these five simple steps.

Step 1 – Prepare for your appointment. You must bring:

· your Campus Card

· a face covering (make sure you are wearing one prior to entering the Sports Hall)

· a mobile phone (you will need to scan a QR code to register)

· your GP (doctor’s) details if you have them to provide at registration (the name of the surgery you are registered with is sufficient – for example, the University Medical Practice)

· hand sanitiser if you have some.

You should not have to queue for long, but remember to dress warmly just in case.

Step 2 – Arrive at the Sports Hall. When you book, you will select a time slot for your test. Please arrive 10 minutes before your booking time and follow all signs and one-way systems directing you to the testing centre, observing social distancing requirements.

Step 3 – Register by scanning a QR code using your mobile phone. If you do not have a phone that can scan a QR code, an alternative means of registering will be provided. You will be given a registration card and some unique bar codes that will identify the test as yours. Attach one bar code to your registration card for your record. You will be given a test kit and someone will direct you to a testing booth.

Step 4 – Take your test. In the booth, you will be given a swab to use to take a sample from your nose and throat. There will be a staff member there to provide advice and guidance, and you can prepare by watching a short NHS video on how to do the test.

Step 5 – Leave your test kit for processing. You do not have to wait for your test result and you can leave as soon as you have handed over your test kit. You will receive your result by text message and email, typically in 30 to 60 minutes.

What happens after I have taken my test?

You do not have to wait at the test centre for your test result and you can leave as soon as you have handed over your test kit. You will receive your result by text message or email, as you selected when registering, typically in 30 to 60 minutes.

If you test positive:
• You will need to self-isolate in your term-time accommodation and let us know about your result as soon as possible by completing the online positive test form. This helps us to support you during your self-isolation and work with your close contacts to ensure that they are not unintentionally spreading the virus.
• It is also strongly recommended that you take a different kind of test called a PCR test through the main NHS testing system to confirm the positive result. When you complete the online positive test form, we will help you arrange this PCR test through the testing centre in the Great Hall at our London Road campus.

If you test negative:
• Best clinical practice recommends that you repeat the test three days later to confirm your negative result. This is because the amount of virus in your system early in your illness might be too low to show up.
• In the days between the two tests you should avoid social interactions with others to minimise the risk. However, you can attend in-person teaching during this period.
• After a second negative test result, you can resume activities in line with the current government tier restrictions.

What if I have previously tested positive for COVID-19?

Public Health England have advised that ‘anyone who has previously received a positive PCR test result for COVID-19 should only be re-tested within a 90-day period if they develop any new symptoms of COVID-19’. If this is the case, you should isolate with your household and arrange a further PCR test through the NHS.

This means that you do not need to book one of the rapid COVID-19 tests (Lateral Flow Tests) that we are currently offering to non-symptomatic students and staff. You are likely to have developed some immunity from your infection and it is unlikely to be necessary for you to take a further test at this time.

I have a disability or accessibility issue. How can you support me to get a test?

In order to ensure that you can access testing, there are a number of things we are doing to support you:

• Booking: if you cannot easily complete the online booking form, please contact the COVID-19 Support email at covid-support@reading.ac.uk and we will be in touch with you from 4 January.

• Accessible/supported appointments: The Sports Hall itself is fully accessible. In addition to standard student and staff appointment slots, we also have supported slots available – you just need to select this option in the booking system. These appointments are a bit longer to give you extra time and you will have access to a larger testing booth. You are also welcome to bring a carer or assistant with you.

• Assistance with taking the test: The LFT swab tests are self-administered. If you feel that you require support, you are able to bring a carer or other supporter with you to help you administer the test. If you need further assistance, a member of the testing centre team will be available to support you but we are not able to administer the test for you. If you believe you will need support, please book an accessible or supported test slot and indicated the nature of the assistance you require, we will then contact you in advance of your appointment to talk through the help with can provide.

If you indicate on the booking form for an accessible/supported test that you need assistance or other adjustment beyond these measures, the testing team will consider this and where it is reasonable to do so the specific adjustment will be made. If there are any issues, someone from our testing team will contact you in advance of your appointment. There will also be a site supervisor available at all times to assist with any issues that arise on the day.

What happens if I don’t receive an email or text message with my result after taking a Lateral Flow Test?

You will receive your result by text message or email, as you selected when registering, typically 30 to 60 minutes after taking the test. If you don’t receive your result, please contact the NHS Test & Trace Enquiries Service by calling 119 (from 8am to 8pm). The test results are held by the NHS only and we do not have access to them.