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On this page you can find up to date links, documents and other publications publicly available.


Testing Update for all Adult Social Care Services Newsletter – 21.04.22

Changes to restrictions and testing in Adult Social Care – 27 January 2022
Letter to adult social care providers from Claire Armstrong, Director of Adult Social Care Delivery and Covid-19 Response, DHSC


Finding and choosing a private coronavirus (COVID-19) test provider – guidance 

Published 14 December 2020 | 27 January 2022, Lists of and information about approved suppliers of private testing kits for coronavirus (COVID-19).


Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for adult day care centre workers and service users – Guidance 

Published 18 February 2021 | Last updated: 20 January 2022, Sets out how open day care centres providing essential care in England can order weekly PCR testing for their staff.

COVID-19 testing for adult day care centres – document
NHS Test and Trace are offering weekly PCR home testing to adult day care centre workers in England.


Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing in adult care homes – guidance 

Published 24 March 2021 | Last updated 20 January 2022 ‚Äî How to access test kits and step-by-step guides on how to use PCR and rapid lateral flow test kits for regular and outbreak testing of residents, staff and visiting professionals.


Assessment and procurement of coronavirus (COVID-19) tests – guidance 

Published:3 June 2020 | Last updated 20 January 2022, How the government assesses offers of COVID-19 tests from developers for procurement and use in the UK.


Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing: privacy information – guidance 

Published 17 April 2020 | 19 January 2022, 
Privacy notice for NHS Test and Trace virus testing for all users of the service.


Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for adult social care settings – Guidance 
Published:24 March 2021 | Last updated: 18 January 2022, 
Outlines the COVID-19 testing available for testing staff, residents and visitors for all adult social care settings.


COVID-19: management of staff and exposed patients and residents in health and social care settings – guidance

Published 4 April 2020 | Last updated 17 January 2021 ‚Äî see all updates
Guidance on the management of staff, patients and residents who have been exposed to COVID-19.


NHS Test and Trace: what to do if you are contacted – guidance  

Published 27 May 2020 | Last updated 17 January 2022 ‚Äî see all updates
An overview of NHS Test and Trace, including what happens if you test positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) or have had close contact with someone who has tested positive.


COVID-19 PCR home test kit instructions – guidance 

Published 12 November 2020 | 12 January 2022, Step-by-step guide available in different formats on how to use and return your PCR home test kit to test yourself for COVID-19.


Testing for coronavirus before hospital – guidance 

Published 15 December 2020 | Last updated 10 January 2022 ‚Äî see all updates
Sets out how and when to get tested for COVID-19 before a hospital procedure.


Minimum standards for private sector providers of COVID-19 testing – guidance 

Published 16 November 2021 | 7 January 2022, 
Sets out the minimum standards that private sector providers must meet for the COVID-19 tests for people arriving in England.


How tests and testing kits for coronavirus (COVID-19) work – guidance 

Published 13 May 2020 | Last updated 29 December 2021, 
The different types of tests and testing kits for COVID-19, and the specifications for manufacturers.


Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing service for extra care and supported living settings – guidance 

Published 7 December 2020 | Last updated 24 December 2021 ‚Äî see all updates
Guidance on regular retesting for extra care and supported living settings that meet the eligibility criteria.


Coronavirus (COVID-19): antibody testing – guidance 

Published 22 May 2020 | Last updated 4 November 2021 ‚Äî see all updates
Information about the government’s coronavirus antibody testing programme. Antibody tests are to check whether a person has had the virus.


Throat and nose test (Innova 25) for care home staff: COVID-19 rapid test kit instructions – guidance 

Published: 28 October 2021
Step-by-step guide for COVID-19 self-testing for adult health and social care staff. Rapid tests are only for people who do not have symptoms of COVID-19.


Expired Kits – Visual that shows how to check plastic tube or test kit vial for an expiry date. Please click here to see visual

Check your plastic tube or test kit vial for an expiry date. Every staff member who conducts a PCR test should check to see if there is an expiry date on the vial.


Check the expiry date of your test kits before testing. – Leaflet – September 2021


Coronavirus antibody home test kit: taking a blood sample – guidance

Published 14 September 2020 Last updated 13 September 2020 ‚Äî see all updates
Guidance and video to help you do your antibody test correctly, post your sample and get your results.


Organisation testing registration: record of users – guidance 

Published 26 August 2020 | Last updated 18 August 2021, Guidance and spreadsheet to record the details of people who you’ve tested for coronavirus on that day.


Surge testing for new coronavirus (COVID-19) variants – guidance 

Published 10 February 2021 | 16 August 2021, 
How ‘surge testing’ and genomic sequencing is being used in locations in England where COVID-19 variants have been identified.


Understanding lateral flow antigen testing for people without symptoms – guidance

Published 27 January 2021 | 16 August 2021, An explanation of the technology behind asymptomatic testing and the role these tests play in the national COVID-19 testing programme.


Coronavirus (COVID-19): getting tested  – guidanc

Get a test to check if you have COVID-19, find out what testing involves, understand your test result, and how to report your result.


Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for homecare workers: information for agencies – guidance

Published 14 May 2021 | Last updated: 1 July 2021 ‚Äî 
Sets out how homecare agencies in England can order regular tests for their homecare (domiciliary care) staff.


Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for personal assistants – Guidance

Published:16 February 2021 | Last updated: 18 June 2021, 
How personal assistants working in adult social care in England can access twice-weekly COVID-19 testing.


Adult Social Care Rapid Testing Fund – guidance

Published 15 January 2021 | Last updated 15 June 2021 ‚Äî 
Sets out the measures that the Rapid Testing Fund will support, including information on the distribution of funds and reporting requirements.


Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for homecare workers – guidance 

Published 20 November 2020 | 14 May 2021, 
Sets out how homecare agencies in England can order regular tests for their homecare (domiciliary care) staff.


Regular rapid coronavirus (COVID-19) tests if you do not have symptoms – guidance 

You can get regular rapid tests if you do not have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19).


COVID-19 Oximetry @Home Services for care home residents – CPA

COVID-19 Oximetry @home services are supporting people to monitor their oxygen levels with pulse oximeters, including residents in care homes. This follows guidance to support remote monitoring, using pulse oximetry, of people with confirmed or possible COVID-19, including people living in care homes. This document brings together existing guidance into a single document with some extra detail in terms of what this means for people who live and work in care homes. The main target audiences are care home managers and staff.

Research to support the use of pulse oximetry in care homes – letter – 24 March 2021
Letter from Prof. Jonathan Benger, Interim Chief Medical Officer at NHS Digital


Coronavirus (COVID-19): testing guidance for employers – guidance 

Published 10 September 2020 | Last updated 26 February 2021 ‚Äî see all updates
Guidance for employers and third-party healthcare providers on the regulations and legal obligations of running testing programmes.


Essential workers prioritised for COVID-19 testing – guidance 

Published 25 February 2021
List of essential workers prioritised for PCR testing for coronavirus (COVID-19).


Community testing for people without symptoms of coronavirus – guidance 

Published 26 November 2020 | Last updated 24 February 2021 ‚Äî see all updates
Community asymptomatic testing helps identify and isolate individuals who have coronavirus (COVID-19) but do not have symptoms.


90 day guidance and outbreak testing policy for care homes – letter to all Directors of Public Health -16 February 2021


Lateral Flow Device (LFDs) Self-test Guidance – Your step-by-step guide for COVID-19 self-testing.

Report a COVID-19 test result – Use this service to report your result to the NHS after using a coronavirus (COVID-19) lateral flow test kit.


New LFD testing requirement – Care England FAQ document (18 January 2021)

Care England posed a raft of questions to the DHSC around the issues induced as a result of the announcement made on the 23 December that staff will be asked to take rapid tests twice a week, in addition to the weekly PCR test they have already been receiving as part of urgent government action to protect those most at risk. The document is available for Care England members only. Click here to login.


Extra Care and Supported Living Testing Webinars – click here 


Roll out of lateral flow tests to local authorities – guidance

Published 13 November 2020 | Last updated 18.12.2020 + show all updates
A list of local authorities across England issued with rapid coronavirus (COVID-19) tests by the Department of Health and Social Care.


NHS Test and Trace QR codes – Advice for NHS hospitals, GP practices, dentist surgeries, care homes and community pharmacies in England.