Comparing PCR and antigen tests with the Covid Testing Network

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• Soloflyer1977 says:

  9 Feb9 February 09:32

  I found them quite useful when I needed to get an in-person antigen test last November and they were able to direct me to a local chemist about 10 minutes walk away. A google search was pretty much impossible to find local providers.

• Blair Waldorf Salad says:

  9 Feb9 February 09:40

  UAE/Dubai/Emirates (unclear which) now requiring test reault certificates containing a QR code for UK arrivals. Because the UK had a spike in Adobe Pro sales in 2021? Anyway, I have had recent tests with Collinson and ExpressTest and neither include a QR code. What test provider have people been using for Dubai with Emirates lately? Granted some people will have anecdotal “I never got asked for a QR code” experiences but I’m only interested in knowing of providers that issue a QR code.

  • riku says:

    9 Feb9 February 12:19

    If you were one of the people who bought Adobe Pro during the sales boom, can’t you photoshop a QR code onto your results?

    • Blair Waldorf Salad says:

      9 Feb9 February 12:54

      I was not one of the people. This demand for QR codes may be the post-Novak effect.

      • Ryan says:

        9 Feb9 February 15:59

        Convert to word then print to PDF…

  • mattxcheung says:

    9 Feb9 February 14:39

    My partner just visited Dubai on a Collinson test certificate and was just fine. However, if you’re still keen on getting a certificate with a QR code, I know C19 Testing certificates display a “verifiable QR code.” Only downside of C19 is it’s a mail-in option (results guranteed within 24hrs of receiving at lab) or drop-off at lab within London or Manchester if you’re based there.

    • mattxcheung says:

      9 Feb9 February 14:41

      And I know Dubai technically doesn’t accept do it yourself / home tests but I don’t recall there being any mention of that on the certifiacte so there’s that…

  • WearyTraveller says:

    9 Feb9 February 14:39

    I called randox yesterday because I’m travelling to UAE soon and I forgot if their certificates include QR codes. They assured me they do. Actually i just checked one of my previous ones I did with them and they do. Randox is your best bet in London in Waterloo they do £80 3h pcr tests.

    • Blair Waldorf Salad says:

      9 Feb9 February 14:46

      Thanks good tip. I’m in Manchester so will check Randox up here.

• Carlos says:

  9 Feb9 February 09:47

  If tory donors weren’t milking it enough already, one has created an affiliated page to milk the public even more

  • Rob Collins says:

    9 Feb9 February 10:16

    Yeah, I certainly won’t be using Randox after their part in the Owen Paterson farrago

  • sayling says:

    9 Feb9 February 11:01

    Surely you can’t believe that every business is run by Tory donors? Are you that daft, Carlos?

• FlightDoctor says:

  9 Feb9 February 09:55

  Slightly left field question but Covid related. One of my sons (13) has a needle phobia and we have had 3 unsuccessful attempts to get him vaccinated. We’re really worried about booking any summer family holidays as we don’t know where we will stand on entry requirements and travel insurance. Does anyone have any experience or advice here, or are we doomed to get another staycation in the U.K.

  • Rhys says:

    9 Feb9 February 10:13

    Your son will benefit in the long term by getting over his needle phobia 🙂 could be worth discussing with a child psychologist?!

  • Rob says:

    9 Feb9 February 10:29

    You are in difficulty, unfortunately. I certainly wouldn’t book anything in advance because the rules can change at short notice. To get into Austria on Saturday, for example, my 14-year old needs a PCR and double vaccination, because she is not boosted. She would be banned from Austria if not vaccinated at all, and we only scraped in by a week because she only had her 2nd jab 3 weeks ago. Spain has also just tightened up.

    Your son has bigger worries than covid if he’s not had his other jabs though.

    • Anna says:

      9 Feb9 February 10:58

      Surely they can’t demand a booster if it’s not actually due? I can’t imagine she is beyond the 270 days or whatever it is from the 2nd dose? My son isn’t boosted because he only had jab 2 last month, I don’t think it’s going to cause an issue for Spain as it’s well within the 270 days.

      • sayling says:

        9 Feb9 February 11:03

        Countries can demand whatever they like. Ask New Zealand…

    • Ryan says:

      9 Feb9 February 13:15

      Or if you can show proofof positive test, that covers you instead of fully vac’ed…

      • Rob says:

        9 Feb9 February 13:27

        NHS does not supply proof of past infection to children, unless that has changed recently.

        • Ryan says:

          9 Feb9 February 16:00

          If you’ve ever done a private PCR, just change the result to positive perhaps…?

  • Blair Waldorf Salad says:

    9 Feb9 February 10:34

    I’m sure the test centre scenario doesn’t help; many of them with publicly viewable jabbing from the queue. Try going to a GP clinic to do it, and see if they can administer liquid valium then leave him sitting for 30 mins to relax.

  • Anna says:

    9 Feb9 February 11:03

    I hate needles to the extent of feeling sick if I have to look at one. A few years ago I had to have a lot of blood tests for medical investigations and discovered that not being able to see the needle makes a massive difference – in fact most of the time if I can’t see it, I can’t even feel it! This was definitely the case for the 3 Covid jabs where they seem to come at you from behind anyway, and put it in the back of your arm or shoulder. I was a bit apprehensive about the first jab but it was so fast and painless the next two didn’t bother me at all.

    • Rhys says:

      9 Feb9 February 11:05

      I’m similar. I don’t mind seeing the needle but it’s much easier if I don’t watch it go in.

      Anyway, vaccinations are tiny compared to the needles they use for blood donation!

    • Lady London says:

      9 Feb9 February 12:16

      I just warn them as I go in “don’t show me the needle”. Then I look in the other direction. Even from adults it’s alwsys clear this a common request.

      Most of my dental work, if fillings or anything less, is done without anaesthetic at my request. Other than very serious work it actually hurts less. My longstanding dentist was a bit nervous when I told him this worked well with his predecessor. But rapidly settled once he saw how I stayed steady as a rock. Less overall pain for me.

  • Tracey says:

    9 Feb9 February 12:04

    Some vaccine centres are more accommodating than others. It would be worth visiting without your son to ascertain how they could facilitate an easy path for him.
    I doubt many doctors would prescribe valium for this reason, though we did use it to overcome my son’s fear of flying.

  • The Savage Squirrel says:

    9 Feb9 February 13:45

    FlightDoctor,
    Long term I’d suggest treating this – it really can be a major handicap in life as it often prevents sufferers from having very necessary healthcare interventions throughout life – sometimes with very serious or even deadly consequences. Hypnotherapy and training in self-relaxation techniques can be very effective – although the NHS availability is not likely to be great so this will likely involve self-funding.

    Short-term, EMLA patches are your friend here. The patches that you leave on for an hour are extremely effective. Leave one on for an hour then get him to jab himself with something pointy to feel just how effective it is and build his confidence. Then another one hour before Covid injection. Show to vaccinator in place then take off and they’ll be able to see exactly where the middle of the anaesthetised patch is.

  • Nick_M says:

    9 Feb9 February 16:34

    I’m not a big fan of needles in general, but have to say that my 3 Covid jabs were the best injections I am aware of ever having – with the volume of people they’re doing I guess they can’t help but become experts.

    Admittedly the achy arm afterwards was worse/longer lasting than most other injections- but the actual needle part was much better.

    • Tracey says:

      9 Feb9 February 20:35

      Covid vaccine needles are particularly small. Pfizer ones are even smaller than those for AZ.

• Jill Kinkell says:

  9 Feb9 February 10:03

  We are due to go on a European River Cruise later in Spring, starting in Hungary and sailing through Croatia, Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria. Any one know how the cruise companies sort out testing requirements etc? Can’t get an answer from the Company, or on any of the gov. Sites. I’m sure we’ll be informed nearer the time and there’s still time for ‘the rules’ to change.

• John says:

  9 Feb9 February 10:11

  Website needs some work. When I click selected Iceland and then click “Compare PCR Fit to Fly Tests” I get a error page: “Could not connect”

  • Anna says:

    9 Feb9 February 11:07

    I think if you’re fully vaxxed you only need an antigen test for Iceland. My friend paid for a PCR a few weeks ago then realised she’d read the wrong bit of the Iceland website for travel!

• Neil Thompson says:

  9 Feb9 February 11:22

  Found it’s advice confusing. Looked for Austria and at the top there was a note saying “People with a triple dose (2 primary series doses + 1 booster dose) are exempt from pre-entry testing.” then a big section headed “Testing requirements if you are fully vaccinated” and “Before departure from the UK to Austria you must take a PCR test. ” which seemed to contridict the note!

  • Ryan says:

    9 Feb9 February 16:03

    It’s either the 3rd dose or PCR, UK fully vaccinated still = 2 doses

• Andy says:

  9 Feb9 February 13:51

  Tried for the US. Surprised they listed more expensive PCR tests, before Antigen, given the latter would be sufficient. Completely ignored Express Test for Antigen, though its a fair price, supervised. Guess is done on a commission basis

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