Testing

What does the test involve?

When you book a test you will usually have the option of taking the test at home or at a drive-through testing site.

The test involves taking a swab of the inside of your nose and the back of your throat, using a long cotton bud.

What should I do if I get a negative test result?

If you have been self-isolating and you receive a negative COVID-19 test result you can now leave your house.

If you still feel unwell you should phone your GP or GP out-of-hours.

What should I do if I get a positive test result?

If you receive a positive test result you should continue to self-isolate for 10 days from the start of your symptoms or until your temperature returns to normal after the 10 days.

Your household should remain in self-isolation for 10 days from the start of your symptoms. If anyone in your household gets symptoms they should book a test.

If you test positive, you will also be asked to take part in contact tracing to help protect your community. This is when someone from the Public Health Agency rings you to ask about people you have been in contact with. This will prevent the spread of the virus.

Key messages:

• You do not need to go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital if your symptoms are manageable.
• If you feel you cannot cope, your condition gets worse, or your symptoms do not get better after 10 days you should call either 111 or your local GP or GP out-of-hours.
• Self-isolate for 10 days minimum from when your symptoms started.
• Your household needs to self-isolate for 10 days to monitor their own health.

What should I do if I have COVID-19 symptoms?

If you develop COVID-19 symptoms you should self isolate for 10 days from the day your symptoms started. If you live with other people your household should self-isolate for 14 days.

You should also book a test as soon as possible.

There are a number of ways a person with symptoms of the virus can get tested in Northern Ireland. These are:

• book a drive-through test online at https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test
• order a postal self-test kit online at https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test
• calling the free phone number 119

Key messages:

• You do not need to go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital if your symptoms are manageable.
• If you feel you cannot cope, your condition gets worse, or your symptoms do not get better after 10 days you should call either 111 or your local GP or GP out-of-hours.
• Self-isolate for 10 days minimum from when your symptoms started
• Your household needs to self-isolate for 14 days and monitor their own health

You should now book a test https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test

When should I get tested?

Everyone in Northern Ireland with symptoms of COVID-19 is eligible for a free test. If you’re not sure if you have symptoms, you can check using the COVID-19 symptom checker (https://check.covid-19.hscni.net/).

You should get tested in the first 3 days of coronavirus symptoms starting.

To clarify:

• You should get a test ONLY if you have symptoms
• if you are self-isolating because you had a Close Contact Alert, you ONLY get a test if you have symptoms  
• a negative test does not mean you can leave self-isolation, unless you have been isolating continuously for 14days
• If the person who triggered your close contact alert was a household member (i.e. a friend or relative who lives with you) self-isolation because they had symptoms and were getting a test and the person then tests negative, the household self-isolation can end.

Where can I get tested?

If you book a drive-through test you can choose your local test centre. Testing centres are available throughout Northern Ireland.

• SSE test centre, Odyssey Car park, Belfast BT3 9QQ
• Lycra car park (near The Rec Club), Maydown Works, 60 Clooney Road, Derry/ Londonderry, BT47 6TP
• St Angelo Airport, 62 Killadeas Road, Trory, Enniskillen BT94 2FP

All centres are open 9.30am – 5.30pm, seven days a week

In addition to the four fixed sites, mobile testing units operate across the province. For more information visit https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/covid-19-coronavirus/testing-and-tracing-covid-19/testing-covid-19