Lateral flow testing for secondary care staff

Please note this page is currently being updated.

COVID-19 testing for asymptomatic HSC staff paused on 3 October. See CMO letter here.

How you do the test depends on the test kit you’re using. Please read through the instructions for use for your test kit before you start. This test may be different to the others you have used before.

Secondary care

Secondary care healthcare workers are being offered testing either using packs of 25 Innova tests (the Innova SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Qualitative Test) or packs of 7 tests (the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) COVID-19 Self-Test (Rapid Antigen Test).

For packs of 25 Innova tests, to find out how to prepare for the test and how to use the LFD test kit, please watch the video below. At the bottom of this page you will also find an instructional leaflet and privacy notice.

For packs of 7 tests (the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) COVID-19 Self-Test (Rapid Antigen Test), to find out how to prepare for the test and how to use the LFD test kit, please see the gov.uk guide and video at: How to do a coronavirus (COVID-19) rapid lateral flow test at home - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)   The GOV.UK website has information on different brands of lateral flow test. The instruction materials online are titled ‘Throat and Nose test.’ At the bottom of this page you will also find a privacy notice.

You must register ALL test results, whether negative or positive, by using the following link – www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result

If your result is positive you need to register it using the above link AND report any positive results to your line manager.

See NI Direct for further guidance: Coronavirus (COVID-19): self-isolating and close contacts | nidirect

If you have any further questions, please speak to your line manager for guidance.

Staff must contact their manager as soon as they are symptomatic. If this occurs at work, staff should self-isolate and immediately telephone their manager before they go home. Staff will be advised of local testing arrangements for COVID-19 by their line manager.

Using an Innova lateral flow test (packs of 25)

Video supplied by NHS Health Education England and adapted for use in Northern Ireland. 

For packs of 25 Innova tests, use the instructional leaflet and instructional video above. Staff using the packs of 25 should not use the specific kit instructions that came with the kit but should use the version of the instructions for use which is on this website and which should have been issued to them with the kit.

For packs of 7 tests (Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) COVID-19 Self-Test (Rapid Antigen Test) (nose and throat)) to find out how to prepare for the test and how to use the LFD test kit, staff should use the instructions for use in the box. There is a gov.uk guide and video at: How to do a coronavirus (COVID-19) rapid lateral flow test at home - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). The GOV.UK website has information on different brands of lateral flow test. The test used in NI health and social care is the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) COVID-19 Self-Test (Rapid Antigen Test) and the instruction materials online are titled ‘Throat and Nose test.’