Lateral Flow Tests

[Deleted User]

I have read that in the first 6 months of this year - over 700 million lateral flow tests were given out / posted to UK residents - yet only 70 million results were obtained

ie 10% or 90% were not completed / wasted

What does each test pack cost ? £10+ - what a ridiculous waste of money and resources (£6 billion +)

Can someone who has had a test pack and not used it - explain why ?

ZaSa1418

Could be a number of things, not everyone reports their result online, could be businesses got sent loads by the govt and they decided against asking staff to take them etc.

[Deleted User]

ZaSa1418 said:

Could be a number of things, not everyone reports their result online, could be businesses got sent loads by the govt and they decided against asking staff to take them etc.

Yes - but not 90% wasted

strawb_shortcake

I know a lot of people that don't report a negative result as they don't see the point

lucinad

My daughters and I test 2 times weekly, I've only ever reported my positive result. The negative results I don't report....I know you are supposed to, but they are not being wasted we use them regularly as requested, and it flagged my positive result, which I reported and got a PCR test too.

Thrugelmir

I know a couple who frequently test themselves and don't report the negative results. 

onashoestring

Most of my friends didn’t realise that you are supposed to report the negative results as well as the positive, but they still use them once or twice a week and if they tested positive would report and self-isolate - so it is not a waste of money. 

tooldle

I only report negative results if it is my day to visit mum's care home. The rest of the time i don't bother. (Edited to add I work from home. If i were going to the workplace i would report a negative). We have a pack of LFT's sat in the cupboard, in case of symptoms.

[Deleted User]

This sounds as if you regularly get infected - and decide whether or not to report it as a last minute decision!!
How many infections have you reported? 

MattMattMattUK

I have done 5-6 LFTs a week for months now, I report them as it is useful for work. My mum is retired, she takes 2-4 a week but has never reported any as she has never needed to show proof of a negative test, however she takes the test to lower any risk of passing on an asymptotic infection. My sister takes a few a week but probably only reports half. In a friend's office they are required to test every morning on arrival (around 120 people), they only ever report positive tests. 

There will also be people who have a couple of packs sat in the cupboard for if they get symptoms or need one for an event. 

They are not "wasted" just because someone does not report online.

superbigal

I believe the cost of lateral flow tests from China are under £2 each.