Dh positive me negative

[RufusRobin]

DH and I both started to get symptoms on the same day - headache, stuffedupness etc. This was ten days ago. Dh got a test on day 4 of symptoms and it was positive. On day 6 he lost smell and taste. I took a test on day 6 of symptoms (couldn't go together due to childcare) and it was negative. Have not lost taste and smell at all. Therefore both our isolations end tomorrow after ten days (kids have had no symptoms).

I just find it crazy he is positive and me negative and how the timings work as we have not been able to keep separate at home at all - no spare bed etc, plus we thought we must both had it when we got initial symptoms on same day. Maybe I had an asymptomatic case and passed to him and it has now left my body, and my 'symptoms' were a winter bug unconnected to covid. Or maybe he had it first and both our headcold symptoms were unconnected, and he has passed it to me and I have developed it after my test on day 6, in which case I should be isiolating for longer, but not according to official rules if no symptoms.

I am going to get a new test tomorrow and isolate until those results anyway, but if they are positive I don't know whether to count from when I got symptoms or to assume that was separate and count from day of test.

All so unknowable and confusing. Anyone else been in same situation?

I had pretty much the same.
They had symptoms and got a positive result, I got symptoms on day 5 and had a test and it was negative.
I do wonder if there’s a fairly high amount of false negatives.

It's most likely due to the day you tested after 5 days the test becomes less effective so harder to pick up. It's also possible to get a false negative if the swab touches other areas of your mouth.

I suggest if you are still having symptoms that you book another test

Yes. My partner works in hospitality and caught Covid a couple of months ago. We live together and I WFH. I tested negative - and we didn't do anything to prevent transmission between us, still kissed and slept in the same bed etc!

i am getting another test tomorrow Scottishskifun. So will isolate until it comes back. But if positive still unclear when to count the ten days from.

Yes that is possible that my test being two days after his meant it didn't work though.

I thought if it touched other bits of mouths etc (fairly sure it didn't though) it would be inconclusive rather than negative?

Yes. Me and DP had symptoms. Him on 4th Nov. His positive test came back on 6th. My symptoms started on 6th and tested same day. Came back neg on 8th. I tested again 2 days later as I didn't believe it. We had the same symptoms except he lost his sense of taste and smell and I did not.

My 2nd test was negative. My symptoms were subsiding. So I had to conclude it was just coincidental.

We all went back to work and school on 19th as our 14 day isolation ended. I work in the NHS (community based though) and we started our asymptomatic lateral flow testing on 24th. Mine was positive. 24 hours later I did actually lose my sense of smell. My pcr came back as positive. That was 20 days after DP had first had symptoms. Crazy really. I was walking around asymptomatic when that test was positive. I didn't have any other symptoms at all other than the loss of smell. I would likely have not noticed the loss of smell either. I could still taste just the same. I only noticed it had gone because I went round sniffing things to see. It would have completely passed me by otherwise.

I had a negative then a positive test 4 days later.

@RufusRobin

i am getting another test tomorrow Scottishskifun. So will isolate until it comes back. But if positive still unclear when to count the ten days from.

Yes that is possible that my test being two days after his meant it didn't work though.

I thought if it touched other bits of mouths etc (fairly sure it didn't though) it would be inconclusive rather than negative?

Can be either it increases chance of a false negative quite significantly I can't remember the exact figure!

Test and trace usually do from onset of first symptoms or a positive result they will advise. It's also worth knowing that some people have symptoms for longer than 10days and you should self isolate whilst you have symptoms but it's worth double checking some people with long covid have reoccurring issues.

Second test also negative

You might have got lucky and just missed it entirely.
I know a few people whose partners were positive and they weren't.

If it was me I would keep an eye on any symptoms limit social interactions, send hubby to the supermarket with a list (he will now have antibodies and if no more symptoms will be clear) and be careful next few days (probably up til Xmas eve) in case you are one of the rare few people with very late onset. But go for a walk not near anyone.
If any symptoms come up then do another test.

Could be completely coincidental. We’ve all thought we’ve had Covid at some point in the last nine months.. all tests negative

Very similar situation op, me negative, dh positive. And I've heard of at least 6 other couples with the same too, very strange.

False positive? False negative? Tested too late or too early? There are a number of explanations.

The test are less likely to pick up the virus 3 days after symptoms start, not surprising you were negative after 6 days , I would treat it as though you were positive from when symptoms started , as you’ve been in contact with a positive case, isolate for 10 days from then,

I thought you were supposed to get tested by day 5? In fact the website definitely used to say you can't test reliably after day 5. I would just assume you had it, and end your isolation after 10 days assuming you're better.
You can definitely test negative and still be experiencing symptoms when you've had it. Eg the cough can linger for a while I'm told, but you won't necessarily be infectious.

I’ve read that the rate of false negative is
Day one 100%
Day four 61%
Day five 39%
Day eight 26%
Then it rises again.

Which means that 3 days after the onset of symptoms a quarter of people who have covid test negative.

If your dh has tested positive and you have symptoms I’d be assuming that you have covid too.

Where did you read that Thelegohooverer? That is really interesting and I would love to see it.

The PCR tests are not reliable. There's legal challenges in Italy, Argentina, Portugal and Germany regarding the accuracy. Even the WHO have admitted they are not accurate as has the person who developed them and he's also said they were not developed for this type of testing. Call me a conspiracy theorist all you like but the information is out there if you look.

Agree frosted . See below for more details

www.who.int/news/item/14-12-2020-who-information-notice-for-ivd-users

@RufusRobinKucirka et al

Both people I know who have had Covid have had the same situation. They’re positive , rest of family negative.

My son tested positive first then the other four in house become symptomatic. I tested positive but husband and other two children tested negative?! Can’t work it out as didn’t isolate and had been isolating prior to my son becoming unwell due to contact. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I assume they had false negatives.