Clarification on gap between tests

[KingsArmy]

Hi,
I have been told by a nurse today that you cannot have another covid test (if the first one was positive) within 3 months, as until antibodies are formed it will continually show positive.
Can anyone confirm whether this is correct?

You shouldn't retest within 90 days unless you have symptoms again.

Yes that's right

Yes that’s correct.

The explanation for not testing again is this:

This is because fragments of inactive virus can be persistently detected byPCRin respiratory tract samples following infection – long after a person has completed their isolation period and is no longer infectious.

Thankyou for your reply.

Our LA asked all children/families in senior and college to test at the beginning and end of the Christmas holidays, with or without symptoms - I wonder what the point of this is if it is not the medical guidance.
We followed local guidance and tested week prior to school finishing and tested positive, we developed symptoms and isolated. We have done another test (prior to the Governments change of school return date) and tested positive again, over 17 days later.
Subsequently been told by the nurse today we should not have tested again as its within the 3 months.

Thats right. In the absence of symptoms you shouldn't get tested within 90 days of a positive test as the test can pick up inactive fragments and say you are positive even though you aren't contagious any more.