Rapid COVID-19 community testing available in Inverness and Aviemore
Issued in partnership with NHS Highland
Rapid COVID-19 community testing will be available in Inverness from Monday 5 July to Friday 9 July, and in Aviemore from Wednesday 7 July to Friday 9 July.
The community testing programme offers rapid COVID-19 tests for people without symptoms.
The Highland Council and NHS Highland will plan and deliver community testing in the Highlands wherever it is needed, to help people become confident in using the Lateral Flow Device (LFD) test kits.
As cases in the Highland region rise, providing further access to LFD testing, and assisting people in administering the test, becomes more important. However, we are not deploying to these locations due to any particular outbreak in these areas.
The mobile testing unit Moves Like Jagger will be available for drop-in testing for anyone without symptoms at:
Tesco Car Park, 1A Eastfield Way, Inverness Business & Retail Park, Inverness IV2 7GD (Moves Like Jagger)
Monday 5 July 9:30am-4:30pm
Tuesday 6 July 9:30am-4:30pm
Wednesday 7 July 9:30am-4:30pm
Thursday 8 July 9:30am-4:30pm
Friday 9 July 9:30am-4:30pm
The mobile testing unit Testalot will be available for drop-in testing for anyone without symptoms at:
Aviemore Retail Park, Grampian Road, Aviemore PH22 1RH (Testalot)
Wednesday 7 July 9:30am-4:30pm
Thursday 8 July 9:30am-4:30pm
Friday 9 July 9:30am-4:30pm
The mobile testing units will also be operating an LFD Collect service, which makes packs of seven testing kits available for free to the public, to be taken away and used at home.
The testing process takes ten minutes, and results are usually sent within an hour, though may occasionally take up to 24 hours.
The test uses the Lateral Flow Device (LFD) and is easy to administer. Results will be sent by text and/or email to those attending, so there is no need to stay on site. Guidance is provided on what to do if a test is negative, positive or unclear.
By taking a rapid LFD test twice a week, you can help your community, families and friends stay safe and slow down the spread of coronavirus. Tracking down cases of the virus earlier will limit the spread of new variants.
If you have been vaccinated, you should still consider getting tested. While vaccines reduce the risk of infection after 14-21 days, people who have been vaccinated could still become infected. No vaccine provides 100% protection against a virus.
No appointment is necessary to receive a test. When you arrive at a mobile testing unit, you will first be asked to wait outside, before being registered and entering. You will then be escorted to a testing booth.
Free LFD tests for people without COVID-19 symptoms are also available to collect from pharmacies in packs of seven, and can be sent to your home by visiting nhsinform.scot/testing, or by calling 119.
The LFD test is used in some workplaces already, including schools. If you already get tested through your workplace or education setting you should continue to use those routes.
Convener of The Highland Council, Bill Lobban said: “In Highland we now have three mobile testing units available to travel to identified locations with a team of trained staff to deliver testing for people without symptoms. Our mobile units can be deployed wherever needed. If mobile units come to your area we encourage you to make use of the testing facilities as this will enable quick detection of any localised cases of COVID-19. It also offers reassurance for anyone concerned about potentially being an asymptomatic carrier of the virus.”
Dr Tim Allison, Director of Public Health with NHS Highland, said: “Many people who have coronavirus (COVID-19) have no symptoms, and will be spreading it without realising. By expanding community testing we will be able to identify more cases giving us a better chance of stopping COVID-19 from spreading.
“Testing for those without symptoms, asymptomatic testing, will help us to identify those who are positive but do not have symptoms. We can then advise them to self-isolate and therefore prevent spread. Anyone that tests positive with an LFD needs to get a confirmatory PCR test. More testing helps to show us how the virus is spread and will help us reduce risk.”
Whilst the unit is being deployed, anyone that has symptoms of COVID-19, or has been identified as a close contact of COVID-19, must access a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing.
If you have COVID-19 symptoms, you should self-isolate immediately and seek a PCR test. Symptoms include new continuous cough, fever, or loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste. If you have symptoms, you should not use an LFD test.
Similarly, you should not attend asymptomatic testing sites if you are currently self-isolating because you have been identified as a close contact, or if you have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days.
PCR tests for people with COVID-19 symptoms can also be arranged by visiting nhsinform.scot/testing or by calling 119.