Exploration of the uptake of asymptomatic COVID-19 lateral flow testing in Birmingham, UK: survey and qualitative research

Abstract

AimTo examine public perspectives on lateral flow testing (LFT) for COVID-19.DesignOnline survey with nested semi-structured interviews.SettingBirmingham, UK.Participants220 Birmingham residents, 21 of whom took part in an interview.ResultsFifty-six per cent of respondents had taken an LFT. Reasons for not testing included adherence to other government COVID-19 guidance, having had a vaccination and not thinking LFTs were accurate. In 16% of households with children nobody, including children, was testing. In households where children were testing, their parents or other adults were often not. Those who were testing and eligible for workplace and school testing were more likely to be testing twice weekly. In other settings, respondents were more likely to be testing on a one-off or ad hoc basis. Approximately half of respondents said that they were likely to visit friends and family after a negative test result and 10% that they were unlikely to self-isolate following a positive test result. In interviews, participants who were testing described the peace of mind that testing afforded them prior to activities or interactions with family and friends, including those they considered to be vulnerable. Interviewees who were not testing described concerns about test accuracy and also cited a lack of face-to-face interaction with others precluding the need to test. Participants were often testing flexibly according to circumstances and perceived risk of COVID-19 transmission.ConclusionsWhile some choose not to test, others are doing so in order to provide peace of mind to engage in personal interactions they might otherwise have avoided. This peace of mind may be a necessary pre-requisite for some to more fully re-engage in pre-pandemic activities. Despite clear concerns about test accuracy among those not testing, those who are testing held generally positive attitudes towards the continued use of LFTs.

People’s willingness to use COVID-19 self-testing in Nigeria: a cross-sectional survey

“…Our study indicates that when risk is perceived, people are willing to self-test and are also more likely to comply with expected actions following a positive COVID-19 self-test result. However, unlike in the UK where participants of a mixed-method study expressed willingness to maintain the use of COVID-19 preventive measures after a negative result, 23 half of the respondents in our study would not self-isolate after a negative result even if they had symptoms compatible with COVID-19 and they had been in contact with a COVID-19 case. As in other countries, provision of information on the possibility of false negative results will be needed when self-testing is introduced in Nigeria.…”

“…Nevertheless, the high likelihood of using self-testing observed in our survey should be treated with caution, as the enthusiasm for this case detection approach may be a reflection of discontent with restrictive government policies on testing. It remains to be seen whether COVID-19 self-tests, once regulated and available on the market, are as widely adopted as the present study seem to suggest, or as other study conducted in the United Kingdom—where self-testing is regulated—have reported 23…”

“…It remains to be seen whether COVID-19 self-tests, once regulated and available on the market, are as widely adopted as the present study seem to suggest, or as other study conducted in the United Kingdom—where self-testing is regulated—have reported. 23 …”

Diagnoses Based on C-Reactive Protein Point-of-Care Tests

“…The color lines formed in the lateral flow tests can be scaled by the naked eye; therefore, no specific analytical device is needed, resulting in a substantially low price of the assay. The fact that the tests are based on a simple paper or plastic foil cut in combination with a small number of reagents such as antibodies, aptamers, color, luminescence, fluorescence, or nanoparticles labels on the surface is another reason why the lateral flow tests are economically available analytical devices with practical application in various studies [101][102][103][104]. The lateral flow tests have disadvantages as well.…”

Performance evaluation of Roche and Abbott Panbio multiplex SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A/B rapid antigen tests

“…Respiratory sample collection for infection diagnosis can be uncomfortable and testing fatigue is a recognised consequence of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. 2 Therefore, simultaneous testing for multiple pathogens on a single sample helps mitigate these challenges. Rapid antigen testing (RAT) for SARS-CoV-2 has been in widespread use in Australia, including home self-testing.…”