Taking a test after having covid - should we?

[Literallynoidea]

My teenage DS had covid (very mildly, he was fine) and the rest of us have tested negative throughout.

Lots of people I know have taken a covid test a fortnight or so after having covid, to see if it's gone. They've all told me they tested negative.

I woudl like to test DS, just out of interest and to show a couple of people he deals with that he is no longer infectious. But my GP said that you can test positive for up to 90 days after a positive result and so we shouldn't.

What does anyone think?

PS I live in an area where there are free tests and they are encouraging everyone to take them, even if they have no symptoms.

Don't test. It may well be positive. It just confuses things

My mum was negative after 10 days.
A friend is currently on week 4 after her confirmed positive result, and is still testing positive. They've told her she could keep testing positive for another month.

Are these free tests PCR or lateral flow tests (result in 30 mins or at least same day)?. As the latter aren’t as sensitive anyway.

A positive/negative test wouldn’t show whether he is infectious necessarily though, you aren’t infectious after the 10 days (14 to be mega safe) as long as you don’t still have certain symptoms including fever, though obviously not relevant in this case

Your GP is right, he may well test positive still. This isn't the same as still being infectious.

Think of it as being like chickenpox. You are most contagious just before the spots come out and continue to be contagious until the spots scab over. You may have spots and lingering itching for days or weeks after the spots scab over but you are no longer contagious, although you might not be completely well again for quite a while. Covid is similar in this respect. The virus can hang around the body for quite a few weeks sometimes but you are only infectious towards the start of the illness.

People can test positive for up to 90 days

DH works in a care home which has just had an outbreak. They were PCR testing them weekly - but anyone who tested positive (which was most of them) does not have another PCR test for 90 days.

They are however now doing lateral flow tests on them. Not sure why, tbh.

Thank you all so much. I have been googling and googling this and found virtually nothing.

Really helpful both on the test and the chances of him being infectious. I shall forget about getting him retested now. Quite a relief to take that decision actually.

Thank you all

Out of interest @EileenGC does your friend who keeps testing positive have to keep isolating then?

As this is what I didn't want to happen if we did take him for another test and it was positive.

@Literallynoidea

Out of interest *@EileenGC* does your friend who keeps testing positive have to keep isolating then?

As this is what I didn't want to happen if we did take him for another test and it was positive.

He is out of isolation now, I think it depends on each country how they manage it. Where he currently is, it's 14 days from onset of symptoms or positive test, plus an extra 7 days if you test positive again at the end of the 14.

He's still taking tests well after completing his 21 days because he needs to fly back to the UK (went abroad early December as his mum was dying). He can't get back without a negative test. The problem is, he's testing positive even though his isolation has finished and he is no longer infectious or a risk to others.

Other countries make you isolate. Where I am it's a blanket 10 days and they don't test you again because they know it's pointless, even if you test positive you no longer can infect others. I think it's 10 days in UK as well?

If your dd tested positive again you would all have to isolate again. It really isn't worth risking it.

Definitely don't test for 90 days. If you get another positive your isolation will legally start again even though you won't be able to pass it in. More or less everyone still tests positive for many weeks

Thank you again all. Very much appreciated your clear and helpful advice.