Community Testing
One in three people who have Covid-19 don’t know they have it. Community testing will help to identify asymptomatic (i.e. don't have symptoms) cases and prevent the virus from spreading.
Everyone over the age of 11 living, studying or working in Bridgend County Borough can get a free Covid-19 test if they do not have symptoms. This also includes anyone visiting the county borough.
Who can get a test
Do you have any symptoms of Covid-19? These can include:
- dry, repetitive cough
- fever
- a loss or change in your sense of smell or taste
If the answer to any of the above is ‘yes’, you must not attend a community testing centre.
If you have symptoms of Covid-19 you must self-isolate and book a home test or an appointment at a mobile testing unit by visiting Welsh Government’s website. You can also call 119.
If the answer is ‘no’, and you live, work or study in a listed area you can access a community testing centre in your area.
Covid-19 tests for people unable to work from home.
You can get a free rapid Covid-19 self-testing kit if you’re unable to work from home. The twice-weekly asymptomatic tests are available for people who can’t work from home and their households to collect from the Bowls Centre Car Park in Bridgend between 8am and 1pm, seven days a week. No appointment is needed.
After collecting the tests, people will then need to take the test home to use it, they’re not done at the test centre.
All tests results – negative and positive – need to be recorded on the Government website.
Where to get a test
Community testing centres are available in the following locations on the following times and dates:
| Location | Address | Opening times | Opening dates |
| Ogmore Valley Life Centre | Aber Road, Ogmore Vale CF32 7AJ |
Monday to Friday 9.30am to 6.30pm Saturday and Sunday 10.00am to 4.00pm |
Wednesday 7 April until Tuesday 13 April |
| Evergreen Hall | Angel Street, Bridgend CF31 4AD |
Monday to Friday 9.30am to 6.30pm Saturday and Sunday 10.00am to 4.00pm |
Wednesday 14 April until Tuesday 20 April |
| Awel-Y-Mor Community Centre | Hutchwns Terrace, Porthcawl CF36 5TP |
Monday to Friday 9.30am to 6.30pm Saturday and Sunday 10.00am to 4.00pm |
Wednesday 21 April until Wednesday 28 April |
You do not need to book an appointment. These are walk-in centres.
What to expect
When you arrive at a community testing centre you will need to register. You will need to bring a smart phone / device to register yourself.
If you don’t have access to a smart phone / device please speak to a member of staff. To register, you will need to provide the following details:
- your name
- your address
- your mobile number
- your email
Getting Tested
A member of staff will show you to a testing booth at a community testing centre. The test involves taking a swab. Staff will show you what you need to do to complete the test.
Each booth also contains a step-by-step guide. The test takes just a few minutes to complete.
Once your test is complete you will soon receive a text or email to tell you the results of the test. If the results are positive, you will need to self-isolate immediately, and book a full coronavirus test.
By taking this test, you are supporting the fight against coronavirus. Thank you for helping to keep Bridgend County Borough safe.
Community testing frequently asked questions
You will need to bring a smart phone / device for registration. You will need to be able to provide a mobile phone number or give your email address. If you don’t have a mobile phone or email address, you will need to return to the site. This is so you can get your test results.
We are encouraging individuals to self-register using a smart phone/device if possible. This will speed-up the process and may allow you to be fast tracked to the testing phase.
If you are unable to self-register, then staff will ask you to provide your name, address, a mobile telephone number, or valid email address at the registration point, so that you can register and obtain the results of the test.
Unfortunately we’re unable to predict how long the queues or wait will be. Please be assured that safety measures will be in place. Everyone who turns up for a test must maintain 2m social distancing and wear a face covering.
Yes, please make yourself known to the staff in order to be fast tracked or provided with an alternative entrance. If you feel unwell and need to leave the queue, please make yourself known to a member of staff.
No, the test doesn't hurt – while it can be a bit uncomfortable, it is only for a few seconds.
You can have regular repeat tests while the testing facility is in your area.
No. There is no booking system for this type of testing. As long as you do not have any symptoms, you can just turn up at one of the testing centres.
We are encouraging all of those who are eligible to take a test. Many people will recognise the benefits of testing in reducing the transmission of the virus.
Community testing will provide a more accurate picture of the virus in areas of Bridgend County Borough.
We are identifying people who have Covid-19 and offering them support that helps them isolate before they develop symptoms. This will help reduce the number of people they spread it to and reduce the transmission rate to help keep Bridgend County Borough safe.
If you have already had a positive test within the past 90 days, you can get tested again. But if you are positive and in your 10-day isolation period, you should not get retested and should remain in isolation.
Everyone will be tested using the new Lateral Flow Devices (LFD). These tests can give results within 30 minutes, without the need for processing the swabs in a lab.
Those being tested will swab themselves then give the swab to a trained technician to process on the spot using the Lateral Flow equipment.
After the test is complete, residents are asked to leave the centre and will be sent their result via text message or email.
Do not go to any nearby public buildings as you could be potentially spreading the virus if you do test positive.
The Lateral Flow Test (LFT) tests can provide results within 30 minutes, without the need for processing the swabs in a lab.
If you test positive via a LFT test you will need to have a traditional PCR swab test. Results for the PCR swab test will take longer, as they will be processed in a lab. Results are usually ready within a few days.
Lateral flow tests results will be sent via a text message or email. The PCR swab test results will also be via text message or email.
No, the test result is sent via text message or email and you should receive it within 30 minutes.
If you have received a positive Lateral Flow Test result, you will now need to have a traditional Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) swab test. This provides confirmation that you have Covid-19. It is a safety net to ensure we don’t ask people to isolate when it might not be necessary.
You will be advised of the next steps when you receive the result of the LFD test.
If the confirmatory PCR test also comes back positive, then you must continue to isolate for 10 days (since your initial Lateral Flow Test). If the confirmatory PCR test result is negative, then you no longer need to isolate.
Contact tracing via the Test Trace and Protect team will be initiated and contacts of the positive case will be advised to quarantine for 10 days.
You will need to continue to follow the preventative measures currently recommended for stopping the spread of the virus in Wales.
If you have been contacted by NHS Wales Test, Trace, protect service (TTP) and been told to self-isolate, you may be entitled to financial support through the Welsh Governments Self-Isolation Support Payment Scheme.
If you have Covid-19 you must self-isolate for 10 days. Everyone else in your household and your close contacts will also need to self-isolate for 10 days.
Positive results from tests will be collected by NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect and are published as part of the daily case numbers. This includes how many positive cases are detected with this new method of testing. It is only the results of the PCR swab test that can be inputted into the app. The results of the lateral flow device test can’t be added into the app.
No. We have capacity to issue thousands of lateral flow tests and PCR tests each day.
No. All the Covid-19 tests that are part of the pilot scheme are free. Nobody should be asked for any payment for Covid 19 testing or vaccinations.