• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Experts Warning To People With Lateral Flow Tests At Home As Extreme Heatwave Approaches

Home> News

Published 14:14 15 Jul 2022 GMT+1

Experts Warning To People With Lateral Flow Tests At Home As Extreme Heatwave Approaches

The Met Office has issued a red heat warning for England next week

Anish Vij

Anish Vij

An expert has issued a warning to people who have lateral flow tests at home as an extreme heatwave is fast approaching.

Despite there being some debate on temperature constitutes an actual heatwave, it's safe to say that the Met Office's warning for next week must be taken seriously.

They warned that there would be an extremely rare red heat warning for England between Monday (18 July) and Tuesday (19 July) next week.

Advert

Notably, this is the first time ever that a red heat warning has been issued and it basically means that there is a health risk to everyone affected, not just those who are normally more vulnerable.

Large parts of England will hit high 30s and possibly 40C in some places.

An expert has issued a warning to those who have lateral flow tests at home as an extreme heatwave is fast approaching.
Alamy

And since covid doesn't seem to being away any time soon, an expert has now warned us of keeping lateral flow tests in the heat for too long and how to store them correctly.

If not stored appropriately the effectiveness of the tests are said to decrease massively.

Advert

Giulia Guerrini, lead pharmacist at digital pharmacy Medino has said: "With temperatures reaching levels in the UK that are largely unheard of, it’s completely understandable to be concerned about safely storing your lateral flow test kits.

"Regular testing is one of the most important measures to protect against Covid-19, so it’s really vital to take good care of tests, to ensure you get the most accurate results.

"The guidance from the NHS is that your lateral flow test kits should be stored away from direct sunlight, at between 2ºC and 30ºC.

"That being said, you shouldn’t refrigerate them either, because storing your lateral flow kits at very cold temperatures can also reduce their reliability."

If not stored appropriately the effectiveness of the tests are said to decrease massively.
Alamy

Advert

The existing record for the hottest day on record in the UK is 38.7C, which was recorded in Cambridge on 25 July, 2019.

This record is likely to be surpassed next week.

Explaining what you can do to keep your test kits safe, Guerrini added: "The easiest way to ensure your lateral flow kits stay in the best possible condition, no matter the weather, is to store them in a cool, dry place, out of the sun.

"For example, a medicine cabinet, kitchen cupboard or drawer will all protect the integrity of the tests, even in a heatwave."

She claims that covid tests must stay within this temperature range because 'storing the test at higher temperatures can irreversibly damage the swab, as well as the chemicals used in the test'.

Advert

"This means that when the time comes to take a test, your results will not be entirely reliable as the chemical make-up of the test will be altered."

Long story short, keep your tests out of direct sunlight.

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: UK News, Weather, Coronavirus

Anish Vij
Anish Vij

Anish is a Journalist at LADbible Group and is a GG2 Young Journalist of the Year 2025. He has a Master's degree in Multimedia Journalism and a Bachelor's degree in International Business Management. Apart from that, his life revolves around the ‘Four F’s’ - family, friends, football and food. Email: [email protected]

X

@Anish_Vij

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

6 hours ago
7 hours ago
8 hours ago
9 hours ago
  • 6 hours ago

    Worrying simulation shows how nuclear bomb really works as global tensions continue to rise

    A simulation of an atomic bomb has highlighted the alarming effects it can cause

    News
  • 7 hours ago

    Explicit 'freak off' text messages between Diddy and ex-girlfriend revealed in court for first time

    Messages between Diddy and his ex-girlfriend Jane after 'freak-offs' were shown to the court

    News
  • 8 hours ago

    Donald Trump shares private message with NATO chief with worrying threat to Europe

    Donald Trump shared a screenshot of a recent conversation with NATO chief Mark Rutte

    News
  • 9 hours ago

    Everything we know about Iran-Israel ceasefire following confusion over it actually being agreed

    The Iran-Israel ceasefire has already been broken, according to Israel's defence minister

    News
  • Met Office issues unprecedented 46 degrees extreme weather warning to Brits
  • UK braces for heatwave as doctor issues ‘bloody diarrhoea’ warning
  • Brits issued with 'do not open windows' warning as UK to experience 30C heatwave
  • Vet issues stern warning over walking pets in 25 degree heat with shocking human comparison