Positive lateral flow after PCR 10 day isolation

[AhhWoof]

Hi - getting tied up in knots! A member of staff has asked what they should do if they test positive on lateral flow following their mandated 10 day isolation period from their PCR. I assume they should continue to isolate until they get a negative test?

No. Isolation ends after 10 days. This can be earlier with 2 consecutive negatives LFTs from days 6 & 7 onwards.

As above! They isolate for 10 days maximum.

Ah - so even if still testing positive they can leave self isolation? Good to know. I've lost track of the latest guidance!

Are they symptomatic ? DH had to extend his isolation in August as still had a temp he was still testing positive too.

No. They are free to leave isolation and do not need to test again.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

You should not take any more LFD tests after the 10th day of your isolation period and you may stop self-isolating after this day. This is because you are unlikely to be infectious after the 10th day of your isolation period. Even if you have a positive LFD test result on the 10th day of your self-isolation period you should not take any more LFD tests after this day. If you are concerned you may choose to keep following the above advice until 14 days after the start of your self-isolation period.

They can end their isolation now as long as they haven’t had a temperature for 48 hours.

I had a positive LF until day 12. Still had symptoms of a head cold.
I just remained in isolation... but it was during Christmas holidays, so didn't impact work.

I think this ‘get out of jail if you test negative in day 7 and 7’ has confused a lot of people into thinking they’re still infectious if they’re still testing positive, which isn’t true. My fairly news-savvy dad had Covid over Xmas and was worrying about going out in day 11 as he was still testing positive.

Those of us who had covid last year before lfts were widely available had no idea whether we were still testing positive or not - you did your 10 days and that’s it, otherwise you could be isolating for months (the original guidance was that you could still rest positive for up to 90 days after a positive pcr.

Yes and many people just doing pcr's as no LFT available so just go by pcr and forget LFT

It's all changed anyway looking at the news you don't need to bother with pcr's now

You aren't recommended to use lft or pcr tests for 90 days after being positive, unless you get new symptoms. This is why.

Fab. Thanks all!

@isitnewyearyet

It's all changed anyway looking at the news you don't need to bother with pcr's now

Only if asymptomatic