What is the point of a PCR test if you get a positive LFT?

[Hotyogahotchoc]

Except to record the result and update government figures?

I am assuming if you get a positive LFT then it means you have covid so the PCR will be positive too.

If I got a positive LFT I would isolate so what's the point of the PCR?

Am I missing something?

@HappyGuppy

Positive LFTs can be faked, positive PCRs can't.

Of course it can be faked.

Not the actual test but you can certainly fake a positive PCR notification. It's literally just an email or a text message.

Well you can do but given it's on your medical records and your NHS covid passport, it would be pretty dim to do that to skive off work (I can't think of any other reason why people would fake a result)

@Hotyogahotchoc

The question realky, is why not?

I suppose if you feel really unwell then getting up and going to do a PCR might be quite a chore

Yes. Especially recently when you've had to keep going back and checking all the time to see if there are any available now. Who could be arsed doing that if they feel shitty.

Well you can do but given it's on your medical records and your NHS covid passport, it would be pretty dim to do that to skive off work (I can't think of any other reason why people would fake a result

It depends on the workplace but I imagine lots wouldn't actually check your official Covid passport, they'd likely just accept a screenshot/email of your notification unless you're a particularly untrustworthy employee!

I’d want it on my medical records personally

@Sunsetsupernova

A friend had covid over Christmas but didn’t bother to get a PCR. Just been to get the one they need to go on holiday and it’s still positive. But because they never got one when they had covid they can’t prove it’s not a new infection and their holiday has had to be cancelled

Ouch. Now there's a good reason to be tested if ever there was one. How gutting for the family.

@LuckyAmy1986

I’d want it on my medical records personally

This is ridiculous -n the future of course medical professionals will be mindful of he possibility you had it regardless of putting on your record now! Just a way of co-Erving people into having a test to feed into stats. Everyone I know who has tested positive recently on a LFT has just done a few more Andrew f they are positive then isolating till negative and just telling contacts do they can also do LFTs. No-one is bothering with the NHS machine

I didn't bother last time. I now have it again and can't decide if I'm going to get a pcr or not. If I drove I would

@HappyGuppy

Well you can do but given it's on your medical records and your NHS covid passport, it would be pretty dim to do that to skive off work (I can't think of any other reason why people would fake a result

It depends on the workplace but I imagine lots wouldn't actually check your official Covid passport, they'd likely just accept a screenshot/email of your notification unless you're a particularly untrustworthy employee!

I suspect it depends on whether you're a minimum wage employee or not ...

@Hotyogahotchoc

The question realky, is why not?

I suppose if you feel really unwell then getting up and going to do a PCR might be quite a chore

It might be but then the pay off might be worth the potential bore of not being able to do things in the future because it hasn’t been formally confirmed. It’s v unlikely but also possible the LFT is wrong.

You can order postal PCR tests if going out to do one is too much of a chore for you.

You can order postal PCR. As I can’t drive and live alone I asked what I could do if I can’t walk to drop off at postbox. I was told that they will collect if informed. A few months ago I was told in my area if you are CV they will deliver a pulse oximeter. Not sure if that would stil happen.

I want it on my medical records in case of long covid or need to attend hospital. Although in theory there should be resources for long covid and other post viral infections I think it will be harder to access without formal diagnosis. (See the number of people with ME fighting for years for treatment.)

It’s v unlikely but also possible the LFT is wrong.

They're not all that sensitive, meaning they may not pick up the virus, giving what appears to be a 'false negative'. As far as I can see, their accuracy for positives is 99.5%. While that is high, it still means 1 in 200 positives are possibly false. Given the millions of people using them, that's a lot of false positives.

I'm not criticising the use of LFTs. I think they're a great tool. But 1 in 200 odds aren't all that long, unless you're thinking about betting on the Grand National or something.

PCRs are simply more accurate.

I can’t count the number of people I know who’ve tested positive on an LF and then negative on a pcr or vice versa. I don’t trust them at all.

I think LFs can also be faked? You can buy duds online too but a PCR is an official record.

the LFTs are a waste of time innacurate and thats before anyone fakes the result. i dont bother any more.

When I had covid I needed the pcr test results email with my name, dob etc to give to work so I would get sick pay from the 1st day of isolating.

I have had a negative PCR but could not get onto the gmt website to record the result and could not find the right options on the NHS track and trace "app" to submit my PCR result.

What are the consequences of the subject of the PCR not submitting their PCR results? (i.e. I just do nothing)

And why do the results not go to the Gmt directly from the PCR testing lab anyway?

Sorry if this is a really dense question

My Dad got a positive LFT. Did a PCR the following morning which was negative. The PCR is the more reliable test.

I was going to say with a postal test you still need to go out to post it

I'm not advocating for not doing it by the way

I got a positive LFT yesterday and have just been for a PCR

I've been unwell for 5 days with cold symptoms and have tested myself daily, and until this morning have been getting negative results. As today (my first day due back at work!) was a positive I've just been to a walk in centre for a PCR to prove a result either way.

In addition to reasons given already, I think it's important to be recorded as a case so that you are recorded in the figures as someone who caught it and was not hospitalised. For people who believe omicron is milder and restrictions should be eased etc., it's important to be counted in the statistics.

@tulips27

In addition to reasons given already, I think it's important to be recorded as a case so that you are recorded in the figures as someone who caught it and was not hospitalised. For people who believe omicron is milder and restrictions should be eased etc., it's important to be counted in the statistics.

Excellent point. If you catch it mildly and don't get a PCR then the % of cases hospitalised increases on paper!

A family member had two positive LFT and a negative PCR, the tests are clearly inconsistent.

I would be cautious with a +ve LFT and -ve PCR as it's possible to simply not do the test properly let alone the margin of error in testing

Because LFTs can pick up some other Coronaviruses not just C19, so only the PCR can confirm what you have got (info from Infection Prevention team in NHS Trust)

So that test & trace can harass and irritate you is my guess