RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Experience of a novel community testing programme for COVID-19 in London: Lessons learnt JF Clinical Medicine JO Clin Med FD Royal College of Physicians SP clinmed.2020-0436 DO 10.7861/clinmed.2020-0436 A1 Gabriel Wallis A1 Francesca Siracusa A1 Michael Blank A1 Helena Painter A1 Javier Sanchez A1 Kelcy Salinas A1 Cherifer Mamuyac A1 Cindy Marudamuthu A1 Fenella Wrigley A1 Tumena Corrah A1 Tommy Rampling A1 Sarah Logan A1 Anna Goodman A1 Deborah Miller A1 Bhanu Williams A1 Alastair McGregor A1 Victoria Parris A1 Gurjinder Sandhu A1 Laurence John A1 Padmasayee Papineni A1 Ashley Whittington YR 2020 UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/early/2020/07/17/clinmed.2020-0436.abstract AB We describe the London community testing programme developed for COVID-19, audit its effectiveness and report patient acceptability and patient adherence to isolation guidance, based upon a survey conducted with participants. Any patients meeting the Public Health England (PHE) case definition for COVID-19 who did not require hospital admission were eligible for community testing. 2,053 patients with suspected COVID-19 were tested in the community between January and March 2020. Of those tested, 75 (3.6%) were positive. 88% of patients that completed a patient survey felt safe and 82% agreed that community testing was preferable to hospital admission. 97% were able to remain within their own home during the isolation period but just 41% were able to reliably isolate from other members of their household.The London community testing programme allowed widespread testing for COVID-19 while minimising patient transport, hospital admissions and staff exposures. Community testing was acceptable to patients and preferable to admission to hospital. Patients were able to reliably isolate in their home but not from household contacts. The authors believe in the importance, feasibility and acceptability of community testing for COVID-19 as a part of a package of interventions to mitigate a second wave of infection.