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SMART FAQs

Whole-community smart testing aims to protect those at highest risk and find asymptomatic cases (people without any symptoms).

This will help prevent and reduce transmission in the community. The more people we can test, the better we can fight the virus in our local area.

Stay Strong Halton. #LetsGetTested

It stands for Systematic Meaningful Asymptomatic Repeated Testing (Smart) which is the model we are using for community testing across Halton and the other areas of the Liverpool City Region (Halton, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral). Smart testing was the system used in the successful Liverpool City pilot. The roll out of Smart testing across the entire city region is another positive step forward in the area’s efforts to tackle COVID-19. In addition to identifying people with the virus who could unknowingly be passing it on, regular testing will hopefully allow residents to return sooner to the things they love. In Halton, as well as being offered to the whole community, Smart testing will be used in a number of targeted ways to support more vulnerable residents – like those living in supported living accommodation - and to bring down infection rates in areas where they remain stubbornly high. The use of rapid testing will help public health experts to understand more about how the virus is spreading in the community and as a result put them in a better position to reduce levels of infections.
Tests are available to anyone who lives or works in Halton, who does not have COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of their age. Children under 18 will need parental consent. Anyone who has previously received a positive test result for Covid-19 should only be re-tested within a 90 day period if they develop any new symptoms of Covid-19. In this case, you should use a Covid-19 symptoms test centre, not one of the community ‘no symptom’ centres.

The 'lateral flow' tests are point of care tests, so don’t need to be processed in a lab. Results are ready very quickly – from 30 minutes to a couple of hours. Most people will receive results by text or email soon leaving the test centre.

Please note that very occasionally, the system doesn’t send a test result in this timeframe but you will be able to get your result the next day (at least 24 hours after test) by calling NHS 119.

To protect privacy, staff at the test centres are not able to access results.

We advise you get tested, and get tested again. Please wait at least five days between your tests.
If you get a positive result to a symptom-free test, you MUST self-isolate and book a PCR* test. The PCR test will tell you for sure that you are positive for Covid-19. You can get a PCR test by going along to one of the Covid-19 symptoms test centres immediately after you get your lateral flow result or you can book at test online at www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or call 119 and choose to either visit in person or get a test via the post. You will get a faster result by visiting one of the Covid-19 symptoms test centres. Halton’s local testing sites are located at Kingsway, Widnes and behind St Paul’s Health Centre, Runcorn. Until you get further advice you must self-isolate immediately for 10 days as should everyone you live with. Only leave home for your follow-up test. Use 111 online or call 111 if you need medical help. In an emergency dial 999. See www.gov.uk/coronavirus for more advice. *PCR - Polymerase Chain Reaction – the tests used by the NHS at the Covid symptoms test centres.

No – you should not attend the Smart ‘no symptoms’ community test centres. There are currently no ‘test to release’ arrangements available for the public. If you have been told by NHS Test and Trace or a public health official that you are a contact of a positive case, it is a legal requirement that you have to self-isolate for 10 days (recently reduced from 14 days). Failure to self-isolate for the full time-period can result in a fine, starting from £1,000.

Getting a test when you’re already in self-isolation cannot reduce the length of time you are required to self-isolate. f you develop Covid-19 symptoms during the self-isolation period, it is recommended that you go to one of the NHS Test Centres for people with symptoms and get a PCR test to confirm whether you do have Covid-19. The local NHS test centres are at the vacant Police station/magistrates Kingsway, Widnes and behind St Paul’s Health Centre in Runcorn.

Until we are able to get everyone vaccinated, hopefully later in 2021, self-isolation is one of the best ways that we can protect our friends, family and community against Covid-19.

No- you should follow the advice given by your travel provider and also refer to the Government advice in place at the time of travel - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-test-to-release-for-international-travel.

We do not provide a ‘test to release’ service.

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A negative lateral flow test does not constitute a 'green pass' and does not change the current rules we all need to follow during local restrictions. To protect yourself and others, you must remember:
  • Hands – wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water often, and as soon as you get home - use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.
  • Face – wear a face covering in indoor settings where social distancing may be difficult, and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet.
  • Space – stay at least 2 metres away from anyone you do not live with, or who is not in your support bubble.
For all the information about the current restrictions in Halton, please visit our website - https://hbcnewsroom.co.uk/coronaadvice/
Through this type of testing, we aim to identify people who do not have Covid-19 symptoms but who are infectious and could spread the infection to others unknowingly. Identifying and supporting infectious people to isolate before they develop symptoms will help reduce spread.
Absolutely not. We are hoping that many people will recognise the benefits of getting a test to help reduce the spread of the virus in their communities. Through more testing we will learn more about how the virus is spreading in our community which will help us over time to reduce the impact of Covid-19 and help us to protect the vulnerable.

Lateral flow tests are rapid turnaround tests that are processed at the community testing sites without any need for sending samples to a laboratory. The staff at the testing sites have received special training to carry out the processing. Results are ready very quickly – from 30 minutes to a couple of hours. You will receive your results by text or email soon after you leave the test centre.

Please note that very occasionally, the system doesn’t send a test result in this timeframe but you will be able to get your result the next day (at least 24 hours after test) by calling NHS 119.

To protect privacy, staff at the test centres are not able to access results.

You will be greeted by a member of staff and asked to register your information. You will then be asked to take a swab kit. You will then be given instructions on how to do the sample and take the swab sample which is a large cotton bud wiped at the back of your throat and up your nose and you will hand the swab back to a member of staff who processes the test there and then. You will then be asked to leave the test centre.

Shortly after, you will receive a text or e-mail with results – approximately 30 minutes to two hours afterwards. Staff will be on hand to answer questions at any point during this process. Please note that very occasionally, the system doesn’t send a test result in this timeframe but you will be able to get your result the next day (at least 24 hours after test) by calling NHS 119.

To protect privacy, staff at the test centres are not able to access results.

The type of lateral flow test being used in Halton is called Innova – it is the same test that has been used in the successful Liverpool pilot. Results of the Innova evaluation published on 11th November 2020 show: • The specificity* of the test was recorded as 99.68% – the overall false positive rate was 0.32%, although this was lowered to 0.06% in a lab setting. • The sensitivity** is 58% for all PCR-positive people when performed by self-trained individuals and 73% when performed by health care workers but detects over 95% of individuals with high viral loads, and minimal difference between the ability of the test to pick up viral antigens in symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals *Specificity means the proportion of people without the disease that have a negative test. **Sensitivity means the proportion of people with a disease that have a positive test.
Eligible individuals who test positive will be entitled to the £500 Test and Trace Support Payment. For more information, including the eligibility criteria, please click here:

Grangeway Community Centre, Runcorn: Monday to Friday 8.30am – 6pm or Saturday and Sunday 10am to 2pm.

Ditton Community Centre, Widnes: Monday to Friday 8.30am – 6pm or Saturday and Sunday 10am to 2pm.


Ideally, you will need to take your own smartphone as this will help to give your information quickly and easily whilst at the testing centre and to receive your results quickly. However, it is not essential as we will have alternative arrangements in place. You will be asked to give your name, contact details and date of birth.
We have set up the test centres using the best practice from the Liverpool City pilot and should be able to get people through the test quickly. However, there may be times when people have to queue and this may also be outside, so please do wrap up warm and be prepared when you visit the centre.
Yes there is parking available at both the Grangeway Community Centre in Runcorn and the Ditton Community Centre in Widnes.
Yes both the Grangeway Community Centre and Ditton Community Centre are accessible for all.
The test centres are manned by Halton Borough Council staff who have been trained by the Army and colleagues from the Liverpool City pilot scheme.
Children can be tested, if they are under 11 their parent will need to take the swab for them. Any child or young person under the age of 18 will need to attend with their parent, so they can give consent.
A process is being rolled out over the next few weeks to enable visiting in some care homes in Halton. Lateral flow tests will be used in these care homes to reduce the risk of spread of infection to residents. Visitors will also be required to follow strict infection control procedures to protect residents including wearing Personal Protective Equipment (provided by the care home) and maintain social distancing. Please contact the relevant care home directly for details of their visiting arrangements. Please bear in mind that this won’t be available in all care homes, and where it is demand for visits will be high so please be patient. A negative lateral flow test does not constitute a 'green pass' and does not change the current rules we all need to follow during national or local restrictions. Please see our website for information on the current rules - https://hbcnewsroom.co.uk/coronaadvice/
Positive results from tests will be collected by NHS Test and Trace and published as part of the daily case numbers, including how many positive cases are detected with this new method of testing. NHS Covid-19 app users should input their results into the app.
No. All the Covid-19 tests that are part of the Smart ‘no symptom’ community testing scheme are free.
Yes you can ask staff to come along to be regularly tested. We are currently exploring other ways that we may be able to use rapid testing to support our local business community, which may include on site testing.

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