Free rapid coronavirus lateral flow device (LFD) tests available in Telford Retail Park in Inverness as Highland Council and NHS Highland increase availability across the Highlands
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Free packs of Lateral Flow Device (LFD) tests will be distributed from a mobile unit at an Inverness retail park throughout this week.
They will be available for those without symptoms at Telford Retail Park from today as Highland Council and NHS Highland work in partnership to increase the availability of tests throughout the region.
Staff will be present to distribute free packs to be taken away and used at home, and can help in administering tests on-site.
The deployment to Inverness is not due to any particular outbreak in the area.
The mobile clinic, Testalot, will be at the B&M car park, Telford Retail Park, between 9am and 4pm each day from today until Thursday and between 9am and 3pm on Friday.
Minimising spread of virus remains important
Highland Council convener Bill Lobban said cases of Covid-19 in the region were high.
"This makes it more important than ever to use LFD tests regularly to make sure we don’t have the virus asymptomatically and to reassure us that we’re keeping each other safe," he said.
Dr Tim Allison, director of public health for NHS Highland, said minimising the spread of the virus remained vitally important.
"When dealing with a disease that can be asymptomatic, such as Covid-19, it is necessary to diagnose cases as early as possible to prevent more people becoming infected without realising," he said.
"The regular taking of LFD tests in our community helps the NHS to find asymptomatic cases and stop the virus spreading."
The tests are easy to administer and tracking down cases of the virus earlier will limit the spread of new variants.
LFD test results should be reported so contacts can be traced. At a testing site, tests will be reported for you.
To report your result when testing at home, visit www.nhsinform.scot/ReportYourTestResult.
Anyone receiving a positive LFD test result, must report it and self-isolate immediately.
No appointment necessary for LFD test
Doing a test at a mobile clinic takes about 10 minutes, and no appointment is necessary.
Those going along will first be asked to wait outside, before being registered and entering. They will then be escorted to a testing booth, where guidance will be given on how to do the test.
After the test is done, guidance will be provided on what to do if the result is negative, positive or unclear.
Results are usually sent within an hour, though may occasionally take up to 24 hours. Results will be sent by text and/or email so there is no need to stay on-site after a test is done.
Free LFD tests for people without Covid-19 symptoms are also available to collect from pharmacies, and can be sent to your home by visiting www.nhsinform.scot/testing, or by calling 119.
Anyone already getting tested through their workplace or education setting should continue to use those routes.
Anyone with symptoms should not visit a mobile testing site.
Instead, they should self-isolate immediately and seek a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test.
Symptoms include new continuous cough, fever, or loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste.
PCR tests for people with Covid-19 symptoms can also be arranged by visiting www.nhsinform.scot/testing, or by calling 119.
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