Tests available from today
Due to the continued high COVID-19 rates in Luton, lateral flow tests (also called rapid tests) are being made available to people who work in Luton from Thursday, 10 December.
This is a pilot which is being delivered in partnership with Luton Council and NHS Test and Trace and is part of the government’s continuing drive to increase the availability of testing.
Lateral flow tests are a new kind of technology that can be used to test people who are not displaying any symptoms and produce results within 45 minutes. Rapid tests present an opportunity to identify some cases of coronavirus that would otherwise be missed. Identification of cases can help reduce transmission of coronavirus by identifying individuals who should self-isolate and therefore help prevent the virus from spreading.
Individuals will need to self-administer the test by applying a cotton bud up their nose and also to the back of their throat. They will then return the swab to an operator at the test centre rather than it being sent to a lab to be processed. Individuals will receive their results by text or email. Anyone testing positive will need to have their result confirmed through the standard swabs to exclude any false positive results.
Two ‘walk-in’ rapid test centres have been set up in Luton. Lewsey Community Centre, Landrace Road and Farley Community Centre, Delphine Close, which the public can access from 8am-8pm, seven days a week. You do not need to book an appointment, just turn up.
A third test centre will be available to the public in Luton Central Library from 21 December.
More information is available on the Luton Council website.
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