CHANGES that came into effect yesterday mean that confirmatory PCR tests for covid tests have been suspended — if you get a positive lateral flow device (LFD) test result you will not need to take a follow-up PCR but you will be required to self-isolate immediately.

It’s a temporary measure while cases of coronavirus are so high across the UK. While case levels are high, the vast majority of people with positive lateral flow device results can be confident that they have coronavirus.

Anyone testing positive with a LFD should report their result on GOV.UK, and must self-isolate immediately.

Your self-isolation period starts immediately from when your symptoms started, or, if you do not have symptoms, from when your positive LFD or PCR test was taken, whichever test was taken first.

The self-isolation period lasts for 10 days, after which you can return to your normal routine if your symptoms have gone, or if you’re just left with a cough or loss of sense of taste or smell (these symptoms can last a few weeks).

If you’ve still got a high temperature, or still feel unwell after 10 days, stay at home and seek medical advice.

You can end your self-isolation period before the end of the 10 full days, if you take an LFD test from six days after the day your symptoms started, and another LFD test on the following day.

The second LFD test should be taken at least 24 hours later.

If both test results are negative, and you do not have a high temperature, you may end your self-isolation after the second negative LFD test result.

When you take a rapid lateral flow device (LFD) COVID-19 test, always remember to report the result via the government website.

Whether it is positive, negative or void, reporting results is a great way to help the NHS reduce the spread of the virus.

Reporting results helps to:

reduce infection rates in your community

protect people at higher risk of infection

prevent and reduce the spread of the virus

find out if you’re infectious (you may not have symptoms)

Report the result every time you use a LFD test, as soon as possible after you get the result.

If you are taking daily LFD tests because you are a contact of someone who has COVID-19, you should report your result every day.

You cannot report a result after more than 24 hours and you can only report one result at a time.

LFD tests can be picked up from a local pharmacy or ordered from the Government website.