To think NO ONE can answer this Covid question

[Clueless2000]

Daughter had Covid and isolation ended 5th Jan. Son now has it. Rest of household is doing daily lateral flows as per the guidance.

Government website says no PCR test within 90 days of having Covid as you are very likely to get a false positive. I’ve assumed this also applies to LFTs and so we haven’t been testing DD but I can’t find any official advice about whether this is right? Covid helpline is, I’m afraid, useless. Doctor surgery says there is no actual answer to this question as traces of the virus will linger for some people and give a false LFT.

So am I right not to LFT DD?

And now my second question…she had a sore throat this morning…not an ‘official’ symptom, I know, but anecdotally I know it’s been a symptom for so many people who’ve had omicron. Do I test her? Could she really have it twice in a month??!!

No LFT or PCR within 3 months unless symptoms. It's because there might still be dead virus in the airway that is picked up on the swabs even though there is no active infection. This is not the case for some people but it can be for others. You r right not to do the tests.

Thanks @Ireolu - but where did you find that info? I can’t find it on any official websites (Govt, NHS etc)

And what about the sore throat?

No you are wrong. No PCR for 90 days unless new symptoms (only official 3 cough/fever/taste) but you should be fine to LFT.

LFT detects proteins made by active virus so false positive is vvvv rare. 99% of people will test negative on LFT after 14days.

No LFT or PCR within 3 months unless symptoms.

That can't possibly be true given you had (have?) to test with an LFT on day 6 and 7 to be released early from isolation.

I suppose it depends on whether your DD has tested negative on an LFT or not.

I was told by track and trace the guidelines have changed from 90 days to 2 weeks.

To your second question did you test at the end of the first infection in January? Was the LFT negative? Covid is strange and there is a potential new variant. If she cleared the first infection she will have antibodies and shd technically not pick it up again. The sore throat could be another virus or another strain of covid. I have just done my test and trace form as I tested positive yesterday and sore throat is a symptom so technically she shd be tested again.

Thanks @Januarypip - I mean no disrespect but as mentioned above, please can you direct me to official advice on this?

I thought you could do a LFT. Otherwise how would people get out of isolation early on day 5/6 with a LFT? I think that because the PCRs test in a different way to the LFTs, they are more likely to pick up dead virus.

I disagree - PCR test not recommended for 90 days but LFTs are. That’s why they’re being used as a marker for isolating ending.

Re getting it twice in a month it sounds unlikely but possible. I know of one household where some household members had it twice a month apart (confirmed) - thought to be different strains. Don’t know how common it is but as lots of people who have had Covid have had it several times it doesn’t seem impossible.

This was answered by Dr Susan Hopkins at a recent press conference. The advice used to be no lft it pcr (unless symptoms) for 90 days but she said now they’ve realised most people go back to negative pretty quickly on lfts so it’s fine to start using them again for asymptomatic testing.

There is no specific advice on this anywhere I have a friend who is an infectious diseases consultant at UCLH and he is my go to person as to what is being done practically on the wards.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

Here you go OP this is the bit about taking a PCR within 90 days

Yes when DD had it, we did the LFTs to see if she got a negative and could leave isolation early but she didn’t get a negative result so she just did the full 10 days and we didn’t bother testing again.

I think often common sense is more reliable than government guidance. If you've done an LFT at the end of an infection and it is negative then a new positive LFT is highly likely to be a new infection.

Sore throat is a main symptom of Omicron. The government haven't updated their three "main" symptoms for nearly two years and so the official guidance is way out of date and I think deliberately misleading.

If you have new symptoms, and sore throat is definitely a symptom of Omicron (ignore government guidance here), then get a PCR.

My DC had it 7/8 weeks apart. I think it is becoming so similar to a cold now and we often catch different cold variants one after the other.

In the real world there is no magical 90 days where you can't get covid again. I saw recent statistics showing that 75% of current infections are reinfections.

Bottom line. Use common sense. Ignore outdated government guidance. If you've recovered from covid and then get new symptoms, a positive LFT or PCR will be due to a new infection.

Ah apologies, re-reading it seems it's the guidance about LFT you want. Sorry I really shouldn't post before my coffee. As far as I know there's not been any official guidance about LFT.

@Whinge just posted the specific advice thanks.

@Whinge thanks - but I can’t find info in that link about LFTs after testing positive?

There isn’t up to date specific information about not using lfts anywhere as far as I’ve seen.

It’s a shame that the nhs/gov sites aren’t clearer. I would take from the fact that there isn’t anything clearly telling you not to use them that it’s fine to go ahead and restart. It would be pretty unlikely to still be testing positive in February when she was out of isolation on Jan 5th.

Thank you all, it’s so bloody confusing isn’t it. Think I’ll have to test her then. Cross fingers for me…