Every resident in Warrington is able to access regular symptom-free COVID tests, called lateral flow tests (LFTs).

If you have any coronavirus symptoms, no matter how mild, you should not use any of the options below and instead self-isolate and book an NHS (PCR) test via gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test.

Always check the test kit instructions, as there are now different types of symptom-free lateral flow tests. The test you have might be different to one you've done before, as they have different waiting times and some might require a nose swab only rather than a throat and nose swab.  

There are a number of options to get twice-weekly lateral flow tests to ensure you are not unknowingly spreading the virus to others:

Visit our community testing site

Take a supervised symptom-free test at our town centre testing site at Golden Square Shopping Centre if you do not have coronavirus symptoms.

We are also offering a community collect option where you can pick up a box of tests to use at home.

Golden Square Shopping Centre

Testing site is located in the former Bright House store (entrance on Sankey Street).

You can also pick up a pack of home test kits, and these tests require both a throat and nose swab and have a 30 minute waiting time for your result.

  • Weekdays: 11am - 5.30pm
  • Saturday: 9.30am - 3.30pm (closed Saturday 16 October)

Testing at school, college or university

Pupils are already being given tests to use at home twice a week throughout term time and the school holidays. Staff at schools, colleges, universities and nurseries should receive tests via their employers but they can also order the tests online via LFD Direct if required.

Pupils are not included in the rapid, regular symptom-free testing in primary school and nursery settings. Primary school aged children should only be tested if they are displaying symptoms, in which case their families should follow the guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection and book a PCR test for the child.

Testing is voluntary, but staff, secondary school aged, college and further education pupils and students are encouraged to participate as testing regularly helps to reduce the transmission of the virus in school and college settings.

These tests require a nose swab only and have a 15 minute wait time for the test result. 

Order tests online via LFD Direct

You can order tests for yourself or others online or by calling 119, which will be delivered to your home or another household. Calling 119 is free from mobiles and landlines and the service provides support in 200 languages and a British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation service.

You can order one box per household each day and you need to be aged 18 or over to order via this service. 

These tests require a nose swab only and have a 15 minute wait time for the test result. 

Pharmacy collect

You can collect up to two home test kits (14 tests in total) from participating pharmacies to be carried out at home. NHS England’s site finder allows you to search pharmacies near you that offer pharmacy collect.

If you do the any symptom-free tests at home, you'll need to report your results to NHS Test and Trace online or on the app. 

How to take the test with a home test kit

The video shows you how to test yourself using a home test kit, as well as how to read your result and report it to the NHS.

FAQs

Visiting the test site

When you visit the test site, the staff at the facility will be available to direct you to a testing booths and will advise on how to take the test, which only takes a couple of minutes. As soon as you have taken your test, you should leave the testing site, ensuring that you sanitise your hands and keep your distance from others.

You don’t need to book in advance to visit the symptom-free testing site. There will be somewhere for you to register and do your test or collect tests to do at home. There will be clear signage in place to enter and exit the building and queue management processes in place.

You should not accompany anyone to get tested, unless somebody requires support to get tested, for example, if they have a disability or condition that would prevent them from getting tested independently.

Taking the test

Lateral Flow Tests (LFTs) are rapid throat and nose swabs which do not require laboratory processing and can show a positive test result within an hour. The test itself takes only a couple of minutes. 

If you have not done a lateral flow test before, we advise you attend our symptom-free testing site in the first instance, so you can receive a test and understand what is involved before picking up any further test kits to do at home.

If you visit the symptom-free testing site to get a test, you may have to queue for a short time but staff are on hand to ensure safe queue management and that you can receive your test as quickly as possible.

Once you have taken your test, please leave the testing site immediately. You will be notified of your test result by text, call or email.

I’ve been told to self-isolate but don’t have symptoms, can I come to the site to check if I have coronavirus?

No – if you have been instructed to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, you must remain at home. Self-isolating also means that you should not leave your house for any reason, including for work, shopping or exercise.

What happens if I test positive?

After you have taken the self-swab in the testing station and left the site, you will receive your result by text and/or email. If you have receive a positive lateral flow test (LFT) result, you should self-isolate and get a confirmatory NHS (PCR) test.

If you took an assisted test (at a council or partner testing site) and receive a negative follow-up PCR test result, and this PCR test was taken within two days of the positive LFT test, you and your household will be told by NHS Test and Trace that you can stop self-isolating provided you have not been asked to isolate as a close-contact of another case.

You can book a confirmatory NHS coronavirus (PCR) test via gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by calling 119 if you do not have internet access.

What happens if I test negative?

After you have taken the self-swab in the testing station and left the site, you will receive your result by text and/or email. If you test negative, please ensure that you continue to follow the national guidance.

A negative test is not a free pass – you should still follow the guidance and remember to the basics of ‘hands, face, space, fresh air’, and make sure you get tested regularly.

Can I bring my children to get tested?

If you have no option but to take your children to the testing site, you can do so, although arranging childcare before going to the testing site is strongly advised. Children aged 12-15 may be tested on site but must be supervised and assisted by a parent or carer. When collecting test kits, you must be at least 18 years of age.

Anyone can order tests online, however it is not advised that children aged under 11 are tested on a regular basis because of the distress that can cause younger children relative to the potential benefits.

Primary school aged children should only be tested if they are displaying symptoms, in which case their families should follow the guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection and book a PCR test for the child.  

Schools may also offer a PCR test kit to the parent or guardian of any primary school child who develops symptoms onsite, if they believe that the child faces significant barriers to testing through the usual routes.