Changes to the types of lateral flow device (LFD) self-test kits for testing at home
FAO: All Schools/All Phases
From this week, NHS Test and Trace are introducing new types of test kits for at home weekly testing of staff and students. If you have ordered test kits for use at home, you should expect to receive either Innova (throat and nose swabs), Orient Gene or Acon-Flowflex (nasal only) self-test kits.
As with Orient Gene tests, Acon-Flowflex tests involve double nasal swabbing only – a throat swab is not needed. The instructions on how to use each of these types of self-test kits for use at home can be found in the test kit packaging.
Settings should continue to use any remaining Innova self-test kit stock and only order additional test kits through the online reordering system when stocks start to run low. Orient Gene and Acon-Flowflex self-test kits for at home testing are supplied in boxes of 7 to enable testing for 3.5 weeks.
If your setting is closed over the summer your delivery will be paused until you re-open in the autumn. If your setting is open over the summer and you are scheduled to receive deliveries, you may start to receive these new types of test kit from this week onwards.
Updated guidance has been uploaded on to the document sharing platform for primary and early years settings and secondary and further education settings. Further information on this can be found in the blue ‘how to guide’ and in a one-page flyer which summarises the changes.
Cheryl Headon
Head of Schools Traded Services