The Braddoch family are taking rapid flow COVID tests for the first time.
They're in the comfort of their own homes, just as millions of people may be when they become entitled to two tests each week from 1 March.
The new measures apply to anyone in a household or support bubble with a child or young person who goes to college, primary or secondary school in England.
Thirteen-year-old Zach Braddoch is nervous. He's heard horror stories from friends who have taken these before.
"They said when they stick it up your nose you can feel it on your eye balls," he says.
Luckily for Zach, these tests are designed to be self-administered. His father James has already opened the packets and started examining their contents. A long swab, a vial of fluid and the test tray resembling a pregnancy test.
But no amount of persuading will convince eight-year-old Seb to take it.
"Once I had a baked bean up my nose and it was so uncomfortable," he explains.
James and Zach begin the test and straight away there's laughter as the senior Braddoch has put the wrong side of the swab into his mouth.
"Wait, do you not do it with the other bit.. the furry bit?" Zach points out.
Father and son swab the inside of their mouths with the correct ends, and then swab the inside of both nostrils, squeezing down on each nostril to prevent the bud from tickling.
Rapid flow tests are less invasive than PCR ones so the swab only needs to reach about a centimetre to a centimetre and a half into the nose. They swirl it around for 10 to 15 seconds on each side.
Now, holding it gently to ensure it doesn't touch anything else, they pick up the plastic tubes and place the fabric tips of the swabs into the fluid. Pinching the bottom of the tube helps ensure the swab is fully immersed in the saline-like fluid.
Next, they remove and dispose of the swab and then gently squeeze a few drops from their tubes on to the test tray in the section marked 'S' on the strip.
"It was a little bit uncomfortable when it when up my nose but apart from that it was fine," says Zach.
The government hopes home testing for families will help control the spread of coronavirus when schools reopen next week.
Children are set to do their first three tests at school and will then be able to take kits home for themselves. Everyone else in the household will have to either pick them up from work, from a local testing site or order them online.
James anticipates some challenges with doing this twice a week.
"I think it's the time-consuming thing with the children that's going to be more of a pain really, and not so much the oldest one but the youngster that could be an issue," he says.
But he admits he feels more more reassured with home testing.
"I feel as though we're taking control of this situation by having these tests in place," he says.
"The children really need to get back to school, amongst their friends."
After 10 minutes, lines appear at the 'C' sections of both trays. It means James and Zach are are negative.
If the C line is not visible within 30 minutes, tests are invalid, and if two lines appear then the result is positive.
"We don't have COVID," proclaims Zach.
Does Seb think he'll take one now that he's seen his dad and brother do it?
He nods.
"It made me feel like I did it too," he says.
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March 01, 2021 at 03:25AM
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COVID-19: 'Don't you do it with the furry bit?' - How one family coped with DIY home tests - Sky News
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