COVID testing is now available to everyone - irregardless of symptoms. Millions of people can order a twice-weekly rapid lateral flow test. What are the risks and benefits of doing so?

The rise of the omicron coronavirus variant has put an increased focus on regular testing, but are rapid lateral flow tests the right tool for the job?

Rapid lateral flow tests aren't as accurate as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests at detecting the coronavirus.

Accessible Lateral Flow Assays: Test to Treat, Test to Protect From development to implementation, Rosanna Peeling discusses the importance of rapid tests for public health.

This does not mean the lateral flow test is not good – they offer a rapid result and can detect infections when a person and likely to spread infection.

From Tuesday 14 December, people who are fully vaccinated and identified as a contact of someone with COVID-19 - whether Omicron or not - should take an NHS rapid lateral flow test every day for 7 ...

With record numbers of people in England and Wales testing positive for covid-19, many want to know the significance of the lines on a positive lateral flow test, and how they relate to your ...