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Original poster

Negative LFT but could it still be Covid?

38 replies

Schooldilemma2345 · 29/01/2022 20:38

3 kids in my son’s class are off with Covid so I’m doing daily LFT as per the gov guidelines. It’s been 6 days since the first infection and so far (including today), they have been negative. My son isn’t very well, he has had a croaky, hoarse throat since Thursday evening and now he has a temperature and a headache and just generally feels rubbish. I’m experiencing similar, albeit milder symptoms but I think I’m a day or so behind. I’ve ordered a PCR to be on the safe side as his symptoms warrant one. I’ve got a gut feeling it’s definitely Covid but why the negative LFT? Has anyone else had a similar situation and then got a positive PCR? Obviously it could just be another virus but his school is tiny and the only kids that are off in his class have Covid.

OP posts:
Giraffesandbottoms · 29/01/2022 20:40

I thought it was common knowledge that you can absolutely have COVID and still have a negative LFT

Calvinlookingforhobbes · 29/01/2022 20:42

This was me. I got a positive result with PCR but negative LFT until 2 days after symptoms. Are you going up and back when doing your nose? It sounds very much like the symptoms I have experienced with Covid. Keep testing and take care

Original poster
Schooldilemma2345 · 29/01/2022 20:43

@Giraffesandbottoms

I thought it was common knowledge that you can absolutely have COVID and still have a negative LFT
Yes, but I generally thought that was the off dodgy test or if you didn’t Sean thoroughly enough. I’ve also tested the last few days and mine are negative too…
OP posts:
Jedsnewstar · 29/01/2022 20:45

I had this, two kids and dh had positive tests, had a PCR due to work which was positive but never had positive LFT, not even a hint.

Hairyfriend · 29/01/2022 20:47

Even more so for Omicron, its not always showing on an LFT. I'd do the PCR ad report back! (My job researches effectiveness of covid tests!)

VorpalSword · 29/01/2022 20:52

DS positive with covid. Isolating in his room etc.

I have exact same symptoms but negative both daily LFTs and PCR. Seems a strange coincidence I get a different virus at the same time he has covid but I'm guessing that is what it is.

itsgettingweird · 29/01/2022 20:53

I had symptoms for 48 hours before positive LFT. Well I day symptoms I had a cold so none of the symptoms you get a pcr for!

I was also testing daily as a close contact. (School).

But I also knew it was covid as the day after my sore throat another 4 tested positive on LFT. In total 11 of us caught it! All just had colds and sore throats.

In fact I'd describe how I felt as very much like tonsillitis.

spudjulia · 29/01/2022 20:54

My understanding is that LFTs have a significant false negative risk and that they require a much higher viral load than a PCR, so they're just not as sensitive.

My son's LFTs didn't turn positive till day 2 of covid. My own was a day or so behind symptoms.

Original poster
Schooldilemma2345 · 29/01/2022 20:54

@VorpalSword

DS positive with covid. Isolating in his room etc.

I have exact same symptoms but negative both daily LFTs and PCR. Seems a strange coincidence I get a different virus at the same time he has covid but I'm guessing that is what it is.

That is weird. Are you triple vaccinated? I wonder if that’s given you a milder version that isn’t detectable on tests?
OP posts:
ItWasAgathaAllAlong · 29/01/2022 20:55

Very possible OP. Last week I had a very faint positive, but had left it too long so though best to test again in case it was my fault for leaving it too long and getting an incorrect result. Two more lft later, both were negative. Got pcr to make sure what was what (only 2 hours between first lft and pcr being done) and I was positive after all. Only now, a week on, are lft showing me positive reliably. Confused

BendingSpoons · 29/01/2022 20:56

Omicron can take up to 5 days to show on a LFT. It is recommended you swab your throat too, even if the brand doesn't tell you to, as that picks it up better. PCR is the right approach with symptoms though.

MadisonAvenue · 29/01/2022 20:57

My husband tested negative on two tests with symptoms worse than mine after I’d tested positive two days before.
He tried swabbing his throat rather than his nose and got an instant strong positive.

FawnFrenchieMum · 29/01/2022 20:57

I was negative for three days whilst being pretty poorly (and DH & DD being positive for around a week at this point) before I got a positive test.

spudjulia · 29/01/2022 20:58

I've got covid at the moment, I haven't had any of the 3 main symptoms, although my son did have a fever. I've got a really painful sore throat. No fever, no cough, no change in smell/taste.

crochetmonkey74 · 29/01/2022 21:00

@VorpalSword

DS positive with covid. Isolating in his room etc.

I have exact same symptoms but negative both daily LFTs and PCR. Seems a strange coincidence I get a different virus at the same time he has covid but I'm guessing that is what it is.

Me too!!! I've been in a covid house , got all the same symptoms but negative on lf and pcr Am triple jabbed and had covid 4 months ago
ElCaMum · 29/01/2022 21:00

We are living this right now.
Unvaxxed son tested positive on Monday after developing symptoms Sunday night.
I started with symptoms Tuesday so tested - negative. Same Wed, Thurs and Fri. I’m vaxxed.
Unvaxxed daughter went down Wednesday night - positive test.
We haven’t tested DH but he’s also down with a ton of symptoms but milder but then he’s triple vaxxed.
We’re not in the UK and can’t access PCRs so we can’t even confirm what we have but it’s too coincidental that we all came down with sore throats, headaches and cough after the kids positive tests.
LFTs aren’t the most accurate and I’m wondering if the vax does mess with the accuracy even more.

SallyWD · 29/01/2022 21:04

I had 3 days of symptoms before I tested positive on a LFT. So did my son.

DistrictCommissioner · 29/01/2022 21:07

I had a cold (tired, achy, sore throat, hoarse) since Tuesday. Negative LFTs. Negative PCR on Weds. today I tested positive on LFT. I think I probably had a different virus initially.

ghostyslovesheets · 29/01/2022 21:07

I started feeling a bit off Jan 2nd - on the 4th still getting negative LF's (nose ones) I shoved one down my throat - came back positive - as did my PCR done the same day - then on the 5th nose swabs started showing positive.

However - DD2 started getting aches, headaches, shivers and a cough on around the 6th - LF's neg but we did a PCR - also negative - she had the flu as did lots of her classmates.

HelloKeith · 29/01/2022 21:08

My two DC were negative on LFT but given everyone else they had been near had it and they felt lousy they had PCRs which came back positive. They only tested positive on LFTs once the PCR had come back. Now they won't test negative on Day 11 Hmm

Furrydogmum · 29/01/2022 21:09

A colleague had no symptoms and negative lfts for a week, but his family all had covid so he was required to do a pcr - it was positive.

jackfrosttoes · 29/01/2022 21:10

PCR or treat as if it is covid I'd say - I've got covid, lft went positive on day 3 and dd was the same.

TheGlitterFairy · 29/01/2022 21:12

Negative LFT on Monday with sore throat / cold symptoms and positive today - feels like a bad cold with really annoying cough. Keep testing and take care

Original poster
Schooldilemma2345 · 29/01/2022 21:13

Thanks everyone for replying. It’s really interesting how long it takes in some cases before the LF pucks it up. I’ll keep
testing but we’ll both get a PCR in the meantime and report back! I feel pretty sure it’s covid.

OP posts:
Stockwell20 · 29/01/2022 21:14

Sounds exactly like my symptoms OP, went for a PCR 4 days ago which was positive, all LFT were negative both before and after the PCR, I had been doing daily LFT and have continued since but still not positive on those

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