Lateral flow testing for secondary care staff

COVID-19 testing for asymptomatic HSC staff was paused on 3 October 2022. See CMO letter here.

Current tests available for Secondary Care staff

For secondary care symptomatic testing, the lateral flow test currently available from Trusts is the ACON Flowflex SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test (Self Testing). These tests come in boxes of 7, and there is an instructions for use (IFU) leaflet in each box which staff should follow.

Arrangements for using other tests

Some staff may still be offered the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) COVID-19 Self-Test (Rapid Antigen Test). These tests are in boxes of 7s. Before using up this stock, staff should ensure that these tests are still within the expiry date.  

Reporting results

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.