Positive LFT but not taking PCR?

[DeerMyDear]

My SIL has had a positive LFT and intends on not being in contact with anyone for then next 7-10 days (she lives alone). However, she’s decided not to take a PCR. She says she can’t see the benefit - she has (mild) covid, so doesn’t need confirmation of that. And a PCR test will put her in the system and she could be fined if she breaks any isolation rules.

She isn’t breaking the law as having a PCR test isn’t a legal requirement (isolating after getting a positive PCR is legal requirement), but it does feel like it’s going against the grain.

Any thoughts most welcome.

Also refuse to be hassled by t&t

Seeing as it takes so very long to get PCR results at the mo, what is the point of test and trace? Genuine question. As soon as I got a positive LFT, I immediately messaged the people I had seen in the previous week to let them know to be careful and take LFT. Is that not what T&T would do but way too late due to the time that had passed?

Sounds sensible to me.

Since they have announced that you can have freedom if you get 2 negative LFT's after 7 days then honestly why get the PCR unless needed for work?

My DH has covid, self employed and simply doing another LFT on day 7

@Tippexy

She may need it on her medical records in the future.

It's the right thing to do for science/your fellow citizen.

The right thing to do for your "fellow citizen" is to stay out of the way and not risk infecting anyone. Which is exactly what the OP's sister is doing.

Seeing as it takes so very long to get PCR results at the mo, what is the point of test and trace?

Exactly. Even before the current delays it was often several days before T&T got round to contacting close contacts which makes it all a bit pointless. Don't think I'll be having any more pcr's.
Testing, isolating etc will all be stopping soon enough. There's no justification for it anymore. We don't test for any other viruses even when people are sick never mind when they're well. Just need to start treating the symptoms now as we do with every other illness.

Presume that also means she's not registered her positive lft.

The instruction booklet for the lft has a notice at the bottom of every page telling you to report your result. Or have you never read the instructions either?

I've read the instructions and never noticed that. 🤷🏻‍♀️ How many people need to read the instructions more than once anyway?

I've reported the ones that mattered - to visit my mum in a hospice and at the start and the end of my 7 days of testing when DS tested positive before Christmas.

@Erictheavocado
The instruction booklet for the lft has a notice at the bottom of every page telling you to report your result. Or have you never read the instructions either?

No I’ve never read the instruction book I was shown a video on how to do an LFT at work and so by the time home testing kits came out I was already fairly confident I knew how to take a sample. I might have glanced at the instructions if I needed a bit more clarification but certainly never read them cover to cover.

@MolkosTeenageAngst

Not having a go at you, but I suggest you do have a look at the instruction booklets - I have had three different types of left and all three have had slight changes to the instructions - the original nose and throat 30 minute one, some in green boxes which are nose only but which have very specific instructions about what to do when you put the swab in the liquid - including allowing it to sit in the liquid for a minute before doing anything else and the Flowflex ones which have different instructions again regarding getting all the sample off the swab and how many drops to place on the test strip. And that is without the info about how long to leave it to develop etc.

@Erictheavocado

So far all of my tests have been the same brand as I get them through work, we had a huge shipment of the original 30 min nose & throat ones and still have crates of the things left, can’t see them needing to restock anytime soon although maybe now there is apparently a shortage more of my colleagues will be taking them.

I do take on board what you’re saying about the instructions though, I am rubbish at reading them in all situations (not just regarding lfts) and usually just glance at them and then work it out for myself which I admit is a hit and miss attitude (and I have the dodgilly assemble flat pack furniture to prove it!)

The other possibility she is missing is that the LFT is a false positive. PCR could come back negative and then she wouldn't have to isolate.
I believe it's not that common but it did happen to my mum and also someone I work with.

[quote MolkosTeenageAngst]@Erictheavocado

So far all of my tests have been the same brand as I get them through work, we had a huge shipment of the original 30 min nose & throat ones and still have crates of the things left, can’t see them needing to restock anytime soon although maybe now there is apparently a shortage more of my colleagues will be taking them.

I do take on board what you’re saying about the instructions though, I am rubbish at reading them in all situations (not just regarding lfts) and usually just glance at them and then work it out for myself which I admit is a hit and miss attitude (and I have the dodgilly assemble flat pack furniture to prove it!)[/quote]
Sounds as though you could be DH's secret sister - he's an expert when it comes to wobbly flat pack furniture!

With dc you need it to confirm dates to school. You need it for travel etc You may need it for future vaccine dates. So whilst she is correct re transmission, a PCR gives date for things

@LynxGiftsetAndSocks

Does she not need it for work?

Most people who WFH just work through covid.

I did before vaccination and since vaccines all of our team have just worked as normal.

Repeatedly harassed? We had one 5 minute call.

she could be fined if she breaks any isolation rules so does she intend to follow the rules or not? You say so but then she said about being able to break them without being fined

You should get s PCR. some situations require you to do a PCR as a close contact. If you have had covid and positive PCR you can't retest for X amount of days as it can lead to a false positive. If you don't get the original PCR you could be falsely made to self isolating in future shouldn't need to tetest. A primary example of this is schools where they require PRCs for kids to return to class.

Tested positive the week before Christmas and didn’t have a single track & trace call in my entire isolation period. And I definitely filled in my phone number! I got 3 texts in total but nothing like the inundations I’ve seen reported on MN previously.

@sonjadog

If she is isolating, then I don’t see any problem. What are you concerned about?

This!

A lot of people I speak to now say they wouldn't bother with a PCR. I don't know if I would now, I don't need it for work and my husbands work accept a lFT so there is no real need

@Getyourjinglebellsinarow

I've just been trying to order one. Can only get one at a drive through an hour away! 😩

Try just after noon. They release them at 8am and 12 I believe

PCR tests allow tracking of prevalence of variants and inform policy decisions & medical analysis of cases v hospital admissions.
That's the bigger picture stuff.
The PCR results are analysed by area.
Our schools / workplaces both want proof of PCR to give you ten days at home. We have one T&T call each for the two cases in our house and that's it. Vaccination dates are based on PCR too

Thanks for all the replies, certainly food for thought.

This is what transpired in the end-

She didn’t take a PCR but was ill so no danger of a false positive. She isolated for 8 days, stoping after two negative lateral flows.

Never registered an LFT, never seen the point.

I see that England are now considering scrapping PCRs where there has been a positive LFT.