How to dispose of your lateral flow tests safely
What are lateral flow tests?
Lateral flow tests (LFT) are used to detect Covid-19 in a quick way, usually providing a result within 30 minutes. They are part of mass testing for the Coronavirus.
How do you dispose of lateral flow tests?
LFT waste generated in non-healthcare settings such as at schools, households, offices, shops etc. can be disposed of as general waste.
However, if the tests are used in a health care setting, for example, hospitals, clinics, other dedicated health care facilities or at mass population testing sites set up as part of Test & Trace, the rules on waste disposal are different. The test kit waste from testing sites such as these requires specialist management and Westminster City Council Commercial Waste Services can help. Please see here for further information.
For more information on lateral flow testing, please read our comprehensive article on our blog.