If you tested positive, how long did it take before you tested negative?

[InTheNameOfAllThatIsHonest]

Just that, really. I'm on day 9 since the start of my symptoms and I'm back to health. However today's LFT still showed I'm positive. I have family I haven't seen in two years, coming to visit (and stay) next week. What are the chances of them actually being able to come and stay with me? Am I likely to still be testing positive next week? Meaning they won't be able to come after all...

Looking for first-hand input as Google doesn't seem to be of any help. TIA.

My daughter tested positive for ten days and then on day 11 negative.

As nhs staff we are advised not to do LFT’s for 90 days following a positive test.
They could show positive for a while and so could pcr tesr.
You don’t need to keep testing once you’ve confirmed you have it, step away from the LFT’s just do your 10 days unless you Continue with significant symptoms of course.

You can test positive for up to 90 days on lateral flow. Once your 10 days isolating is done you are considered not contagious.

Ditch the tests. Once you've completed day 10 it's over for you

It's finished after 10 day unless you still have a fever.

So not contagious after 10 days if no symptoms? Even if test still says positive?

@flower11

You can test positive for up to 90 days on lateral flow. Once your 10 days isolating is done you are considered not contagious.

Is there an NHS site that says so? So I can show my family?

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/how-long-to-self-isolate/

Rules on self-isolating.

You could also ring 119. MIL (had Covid, is scared of the internet) found them very helpful.

My friend is a nurse on a geriatric ward. She tells me that all patients are tested before they leave ward, but not if they have had Covid in last 90 days as they can still test positive, so it would be misleading.

Since all this started, the message has been not to test for 90 days after a positive test, and has also been that after the 10 days are up you only continue to isolate if you have symptoms.

Why are you still testing yourself?

Because I want to show my family that I'm not contagious anymore - unless I can find somewhere like a .gov or NHS site that says after ten days you are no longer contagious, they will only take a negative test as proof as they are worried of catching Covid from me :-(

Well, the NHS site states that people do not have to isolate after ten days have passed and that has been the case for a long time now. If your family aren’t able to trust the NHS recommendation and aren’t able to understand why people are told not to test for 90 days after Covid, you might have to resign yourself to not seeing them for a while, I’m afraid.

You won't be contagious but you don't test for 90 days as you could still show positive as it's still in your system.

They are coming over from mainland Europe and all they can find there is that you are not considered contagious after 21 days from symptoms. Which would be too late for the dates they are due to fly over. I'm so mad at them right now. Why can't they trust our NHS????

Lateral flow tests are not reliable.