Negative LFT but could it still be Covid?

[Schooldilemma2345]

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.

My house have just had it and 3 didn't test positive with lft until a good 24 hours after fever.

Swab your throat AND your nose

My LFT was negative just swabbing my nose. As soon as I swabbed my throat the line was so pink it was almost jumping off the test.

I was negative LFT for two days and positive PCR. The problem with Omicron is that it replicates mostly in your throat/upper airways, not in your nose.
Also, remember PCR amplifies DNA/RNA. So even just a few pieces will be detected, the LFTs are just not that sensitive.
It felt like the beginning of tonsillitis to me, I got poorly quickly, not like a cold. Everyone is a bit different however. Best to get a PCR to be sure as there are lots of colds going round also.

I had symptoms Monday but negative pcr.... by Wednesday lft was positive

I'm a close contact many times over this week. I'm a teacher so have lost children in my class and DH tested positive earlier in the week. I've been testing daily and every LFT has been a very clear negative. I've been feeling a bit off today - headache, hoarse, sore throat and chest, bit congested, so I've been for a PCR and waiting for results. I'm still testing negative on the LFTs so will be interesting to see what the PCR says.

Whole household is ill. Ds confirmed positive on LFT. I am still negative but have definate covid symptoms. I thought PCRS were no longer being issued??

I didn’t test positive till day 5.

@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.

Snap! All same symptoms here too but negative on all my tests (LF & PCR) despite dd being positive.

You can still get a PCR if you have symptoms. I’m a teacher so classes as ‘essential’ but I don’t know if that makes any difference.

I kve taken the approach that even with the negative tests I might have Covid so I have stayed inside until symptoms have gone. Well apart from the headache and that took months last time.

Triple vaxed so maybe that does have something to do with it.

I had covid a few weeks ago, testing everyday as close contact. I tested positive on a lft, confirmed by pcr the next day. My daughter came down with exactly the same symptoms the next day, negative pcr and lft throughout. She felt better after a couple of days and we couldn't believe it wasn't covid.

However now, 3 weeks later, she has tested positive with the same symptoms again so I think it must have been something else she had at the same time as me 3 weeks ago.

There have been so many threads about this, look it up. It is common.

This is from January