Positive lateral flow tests after having covid?

[DuckyMcDuck]

Is this a thing? As school staff we were testing twice a week and I tested positive 2 weeks ago. (Whole family self-isolated as required) and I'm now back at work.

I'm not sure if I should still be doing the testing. I'm sure I read somewhere that the lfts can test positive for 90 days after having had Covid but can't find it again.

Has anyone else read this and have a link please?

I'm pretty sure it says that on my lateral flow kit. But I'm a healthcare worker so have my own.

Not required to test within 90 days of a positive test.

This has only recently been updated on the Dfe guidance for schools so you may need to double check your school is aware of the issue.

Did you also have PCR to confirm you had it?

But yes it can be positive for up to 3 months and they say not to test

That's really helpful, thank you all.

Yes, I did have a positive PCR too.

www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/11/C0913-lateral-flow-antien-test-trust-faqs-v3-jan-2021.pdf

This NHS guide for staff says that they should begin using LFTs 90 days after a positive test.

I’m in the same situation. My first day back was today. Our MAT have insisted that we go back to taking them again but I’ve just withdrawn consent . Really didn’t want to do it that way because I understand how important they are but I have isolated for nearly a month and not prepared to isolate again if I test positive on the LFT. I said about the updated guidance from D of E and they said it’s not been updated at all.

@DuckyMcDuck

Yes, I did have a positive PCR too.

How were you? Hope you didn't have too bad a time with it

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.tameside.gov.uk/TamesideMBC/media/Children/DFE-Coronavirus-Daily-Update-09-02-2021-to-All-Providers.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwi238a1nv7uAhWmRhUIHU_LBm8QFjAGegQIChAC&usg=AOvVaw0cOowK0M0hFfEt39HaqZbG" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">DfE email from 9th Feb regarding change

@handmademitlove

Thank you! I still can’t see where it says on there not to do one for 90 days? It says to align it with health care professional (which was the point I was trying to prove to our HT) but she said it’s up to the MAT and they have said we still have do it.

I had a very frustrating discussion with the DfE helpline today to ask a similar question regarding students and LFTs. I spoke to the parent helpline who told me that "schools have the right guidance and students are exempt for 90 days after a positive COVID test". However, they couldn't tell me exactly where this was in the guidance. They seemed to think schools should know this.. When I asked where exactly in the guidance, as in, what document / section? he just kept repeating it's in the guidance that schools have access to but couldn't tell me where exactly. So no help I am afraid. You could, however, phone the helpline as a teacher - you get to speak to a different department and apparently they have all the answers!

I already had exactly the same conversation with them as well as a TA, they insisted it was there and guidance had been sent to all schools but we haven’t got it.

They seemed utterly bemused as to why I was asking and couldn’t say anything which was not on their script!

My SEN school had to close due to so many of us testing positive for Covid (none of which were picked up by the LFD's). My school reopened on Monday and none of us who have had Covid will test until 90 days have passed since we tested positive. My DH caught the virus from me and his school wanted him to test upon his return but he refused. No way were we going to make our family self isolate again due to a false positive.

Watching carefully.

My son had Covid in November (so more than 90 days ago) but I recall one country at least waits 180 days before a previously positive person can retest.

I'm concerned the LFTs in school might still come up positive. He already had 6 isolations and 45 school days at home between Sept and Dec and he's year 10, so has had lots of disruption.

For those still interested in where this guidance is hidden, it is buried in the FAQ rather than in the actual guidance.... 🙄

My mum had covid in December, and has been testing weekly/twice weekly with LFT for about the last month and has tested negative each time.

Page 12 of FAQs for those who might need to know!

The problem with LFT after COVID is not that it will be positive but that it may still be positive - as you don't know how long you are shedding dead cells for. For some people it can be very short term, for others it can be months.

I'm intrigued as to what it is your shedding for three months. Can't be "dead virus" as viruses are never alive. Shredded virus bits maybe

To be more scientific, this is from NHS guidance "exempt from routine re-testing by PCR or LFD antigen tests (for example, repeated whole setting screening or screening prior to hospital discharge) within a period of 90 days from their initial illness onset or test (if asymptomatic) unless they develop new COVID-19 symptoms. This is because fragments of inactive virus can be persistently detected by PCR in respiratory tract samples following infection – long after a person has completed their isolation period and is no longer infectious."

I had Covid at the beginning of December (positive test on 6th December) and I have been doing twice weekly lateral flow tests since the middle of January (I'm an Infant School Learning Support Assistant) and every test has come back negative.

It’s not the LFT that you can test positive with after having COVID, , it’s the PCR test that can stay positive up for up to 90 days, therefore you could get a false positive on the PCR, which makes the LFD testing tricky... the LFD test is testing for if you’re infectious or not, the PCR tests for fragments of the virus, that’s why false positives are very rare with the LFD, DFE are sitting on the fence currently and saying staff can do it but it’s not mandatory...