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AIBU?

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Original poster

To want the NHS or FlowFlex to research why all my LFTs are positive?!

110 replies

LindaBlinda · 01/12/2021 22:11

Because seriously I'm worried that maybe eventually I'll try to travel and it'll be a FlowFlex test and I'll be told I'm positive.

Every single FlowFlex test I take is faintly positive. Pink line. Within the 15 minutes. As the attached photo. The same for the last 3-4 months or however long ago the FlowFlex started being the ones the NHS mailed out.

Any other brand of LFT is 100% negative. If anyone else in my family uses the FlowFlex from the same boxes they get negatives.

I'm mid 30s and double jabbed with Pfizer. I've never knowingly had Covid. And have tested at least twice a week since we were able to have LFTs due to caring for a terminally ill family member.

When the rest of my household were recently infected with Covid I was the only one not to catch it. Luckily I have some boxes of the other LFTs and have in the past month had 3 PCRs as each other household member tested positive. Also had 2 PCRs the past 2 months due to these faint FlowFlex lines.

All been negative.

Please if anyone knows how I can get some information on this or get some advice about it I'd be grateful. As I don't want false positives (which everyone says are totally rare and impossible) to ruin any future freedoms.

If there are trials or something for people in the same boat I'd be very willing to take part. Just want to get to the bottom of it as I'm on my last box of non FlowFlex!

To want the NHS or FlowFlex to research why all my LFTs are positive?!
OP posts:
my8thMNusername · 01/12/2021 23:19

Thanks OP - will look in the morning. I did about 15 tests last week! I hadn't heard of anything like this before and now there are several threads, so odd! I've got faith that you're fine!

Original poster
LindaBlinda · 01/12/2021 23:21

@BungleandGeorge

Have you eaten or drunk anything in the 30 minutes before you take the test?
Nope.

Generally I do them first thing in the morning. Most I'll have ever had at the point is a mouthful of water. But normally not even that.

But the one I did tonight to take the photo of for this was well over an hour since a cup of tea. But is the same as any other time I do them. FlowFlex are the nose only ones.

OP posts:
Original poster
LindaBlinda · 01/12/2021 23:22

@rainydogday

My DS tests positive on lfts ever since they started! She is a nurse so is now part of the trial so has pcr regularly as she is unable to use the lfts. However.....since the new flex flow tests have been issued she tests negative on these! So completely the opposite to you. All her PCR tests are negative and her antibody tests we had to have prior to the vaccines way back we negative so she has never knowingly had covid. She is also worried that she will never trust these tests enough to go abroad etc
Wow that's really interesting. But equally as frustrating.

I'm going to look into who I can contact. As I'd love to get to the bottom of this.

OP posts:
Slowfoxfast · 01/12/2021 23:24

I had 3 false positives from FlowFlex and 3 -ve PCRs. Also tested -ve on the other LFTS. Track and trace said PCRs are definitive so to ignore the LFTs. I chucked the remainder away. It was just too stressful.

TimeFlysWhenYoureHavingRum · 02/12/2021 00:00

Covid is rife in the UK (assuming that's where you are). Its very possible you have a low viral load.

Original poster
LindaBlinda · 02/12/2021 00:22

@TimeFlysWhenYoureHavingRum

Covid is rife in the UK (assuming that's where you are). Its very possible you have a low viral load.
For 3+ months solid that's undetected by PCRs and all brands of LFT except one?
OP posts:
Original poster
LindaBlinda · 02/12/2021 07:13

I'm going to order some saliva pH strips and start with a home science experiment to see maybe if my saliva is a different pH to DH and DC.

OP posts:
my8thMNusername · 02/12/2021 07:20

@LindaBlinda mine are flowflex (how I missed this when it's ALL over the packaging BlushGrin)

BungleandGeorge · 02/12/2021 07:32

@LindaBlinda yes I know they’re nasal only but it’s in the instructions of that brand not to eat/ drink for 30 minutes before. No smoking before hand either.

Cookerhood · 02/12/2021 08:21

It is in the instructions but it doesn't actually make much sense (smoking maybe, not eating or drinking though).

MerryChristmas31 · 02/12/2021 08:23

I've never had a positive with them.

bestbefore · 02/12/2021 08:26

Maybe contact the guys at the Zoe research study, they might be interested? covid.joinzoe.com/about or else know who you could speak to?

Original poster
LindaBlinda · 02/12/2021 08:27

[quote BungleandGeorge]@LindaBlinda yes I know they’re nasal only but it’s in the instructions of that brand not to eat/ drink for 30 minutes before. No smoking before hand either.[/quote]
Yes I know. But as said always done totally to instructions, no food or drink.

OP posts:
Original poster
LindaBlinda · 02/12/2021 08:28

Oh and I don't smoke.

OP posts:
Original poster
LindaBlinda · 02/12/2021 08:29

@bestbefore

Maybe contact the guys at the Zoe research study, they might be interested? covid.joinzoe.com/about or else know who you could speak to?
Thanks good plan. I've emailed FlowFlex. Zoe is a good idea . Maybe I'll search for a few open studies and see if any are looking into it.
OP posts:
Akire · 02/12/2021 08:33

Oh interesting I have cold Zoe app symptoms says classic symptoms for double jabbed are headache runny nose and sore throat (unlike what nhs site says) so
Did LTF came in positive later in day did an old not flex flow and no line at all. Just done another flex flow came Up positive in 10 sec. Also a reflux sufferer and did first thing so nothing eaten or drink all night. Waiting to see what PCR says it should arrive today.

knittingaddict · 02/12/2021 08:41

I have the worst acid reflux ever (double dose of prescribed medication and sometimes take over the counter stuff when it's unbearable) and lfts are negative.

DecayedStrumpet · 02/12/2021 08:43

cookerhood I don't know about anyone else's trust, but ours definitely tests for anti-S (vaccine or infection) AND anti-N (infection only) antibodies

Xmasprrssiehelp · 02/12/2021 09:05

I have had an antibody test, it was a specific test for covid antibodies, not vaccine ones. Don’t know how you order them though as I was selected for a trial

BudgeSquare · 02/12/2021 09:12

We are having exactly the same issue with flowflex tests.

I pulled my kids out of school in the middle of the day and they tested completely negative on other (old type) lateral flow and on pcrs done the same day.

I believe they are not fit for purpose. We have had multiple false positives and we are negative on every other test taken the same day and no symptoms.

BudgeSquare · 02/12/2021 09:13

P.s. I will happily back you up if you manage to find contact details

INeedNewShoes · 02/12/2021 09:18

I'm glad to see this thread. I've had shadowy lines on the newer nasal LFTs as well.

First time it happened I did a PCR which came back negative. I then did another Floflex the next day and got the same shadowy line. I asked a neighbour for one of the original type LFT and did that and it was negative.

Since then I've noticed I always get at least a grey shadowy line on these tests.

I wish I could get hold of the other type of test and just do those.

Slowfoxfast · 02/12/2021 11:13

I've done a quick google and it seems some batches of FlowFlex tests in the US were recalled at the beginning of November. I got my box in October so I suppose it is conceivable that I had a dodgy batch but will never know.

Slowfoxfast · 02/12/2021 11:13

Sorry, should have said recalled because of false positives amongst other reasons.

googlage · 02/12/2021 12:38

My PCR has come back negative.

So both of yesterday’s positive FlowFlex lateral flow tests were false positives…!