Guidance

Combined COVID-19 and flu tests: use in ARI outbreaks in adult social care homes

SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A+B antigen combo rapid tests for COVID-19 and 2 types of flu (A and B) during an outbreak of acute respiratory infection (ARI)

• From: UK Health Security Agency
• Published: 4 September 2025
• Last updated: 24 September 2026 — See all updates

Documents

SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A+B antigen combo rapid tests for COVID-19 and 2 types of flu A and B during an outbreak of acute respiratory infection in adult social care residential and nursing homes: a pilot in some areas of England

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The guidance document on this page is provided for adult social care home staff who have used SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A+B antigen combo rapid (COVID-19, flu A and flu B) tests during a suspected outbreak of acute respiratory infection (ARI). It explains how to test residents in the event of a suspected outbreak, how to report test results, what to do with tests results and how to receive a new supply of lateral flow device (LFD) combo rapid tests.

Combo rapid LFD tests test for both COVID-19 and flu infections. They are available in care homes in the regions listed below to test adult residents who have respiratory symptoms during a suspected acute respiratory infection outbreak:

• South East England

Care home staff in other regions should follow their usual outbreak reporting procedures. 

Care homes using the UKHSA-supplied LFD combo rapid tests should report all results (including negatives) via the Report an outbreak webpage. This will automatically send out replacement LFD tests. New tests will be sent to your care home within 1 to 2 weeks of reporting your outbreak.

If one or more of your residents has tested positive for flu, the relevant team will contact you (Health Protection Team, Community Infection Prevention and Control Team and so on), to help you get the right treatment for your residents and to reduce the risk of others becoming unwell.

If you think there is a respiratory outbreak in your care home, but you do not have any combo rapid tests, continue to report your outbreak via the Report an outbreak webpage.

Published 4 September 2025

Last updated 24 September 2026 — Show all updates

1. 24 September 2026

   Removed 'How to report SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A+B antigen combo rapid test results in adult social care homes in South East England' and 'Spreadsheet to report your combo rapid test results'.

2. 27 November 2025

   Added new version of spreadsheet for LFD test results.

3. 17 October 2025

   Updated instructions for reporting test results on Egress. Updated spreadsheet with full list of care homes.

4. 4 September 2025

   First published.