Hello MB123456,

You are right to be concerned. It's really not fair to risk bringing Covid into a hospital.

I have just returned from a mediastinoscopy for the purposes of lymph node biopsy, and I self-isolated for 2 weeks beforehand, following the strict instructions that I was given. It wasn't easy. We had to partition the house so that I had no contact with anyone else.

I also was required to have a Covid test 3 days before the procedure. In theory, if the test is negative and you strictly isolate for the following 3 days, the risk would be low. But the Covid tests are not 100% accurate so there is still a risk and therefore one should completely isolate for 2 weeks beforehand. No going out, no being in the same room as other family members.

To be fair, MB123456, I should have added that it depends a lot on what type of biopsy it is. A needle biopsy, where you're in and out in a few minutes, won't justify full self-isolation. But whatever the hospital requests, one should of course do.

Hi, 

Yes I agree you are right to be concerned. I had an operation 2 days ago, NHS in private hospital where cancer patients might be. I was obsessive about my self isolating because I wouldn't want to bring covid to someone vulnerable. 

However as some reassurance, the staff are tested every week, the room handles etc were cleaned, staff all wore PPE to come into my room, everyone's temperature checked entering the building etc, so I think they'd get on top of any infection very quickly.

And for the quick blood tests I had beforehand, I didn't need to self isolate. A biopsy might be the same. I think now hospitals are really on it, it should be OK. Nice of you to be concerned though!