The information on this page is about using antigen tests you buy in a shop or pharmacy.
Most children do not need to get tested for COVID-19.
If your child has symptoms
Your child should stay at home and avoid contact with other people if they have symptoms of COVID-19 and:
- are unwell
- have a high temperature (38 degrees Celsius or higher)
How to do an antigen test with your child
To do the antigen test you use a swab to take a sample from your child's nose.
When you have finished with an antigen test, put it in a plastic bag and put the bag in your bin.
Read step-by-step advice on how to do an antigen test
Watch a video on doing an antigen test with a child:
Antigen test results
The test will show the result in about 15 minutes.
There are 3 types of antigen test results:
- Positive (detected)
- Negative (not detected)
- Invalid