Anyone who does regular LFT can you help?

[crispychicken12]

I'm a student nurse. I do regular LFT twice weekly, always had instant negatives.

I tested on Sunday night prior to my Monday shift, negative. On Tuesday night I started feeling hayfever symptoms, tested again on Wednesday morning to be sure and it was negative.

Woke up today with cold symptoms: runny nose, headache, stuffy and sore throat, lots of sneezing. Mild occasional cough, more to clear irritable throat. Smells are still there but mild due to my nose being so runny.

I took a LFT, for a while there was a line. However, as time has gone on after 30 mins it was clear.

I've attached the tests. I'm due in clinic at 12, they are aware I tested negative through the week and have hayfever (I do suffer hayfever, usually not this bad though)

Has anyone had this before? I'm 23 weeks pregnant so extra anxious at this point. I do think it's just hayfever

@ineedaholidaynow I never knew that, my placement supervisor told me to take another LFT as I was coughing. Good to know for the future though, thanks

Lateral flows have a high false negative rate so not that reliable. As you have symptoms you should have a pcr test. They come back really quickly. Better to just have one day off and be certain.

You’re not meant to use LFTs if symptomatic but an LFT would still pick up if you’re positive - the whole point is people might take LFTs and not isolate in the meantime plus not everyone reports an LFT whereas a PCR is automatically reported etc and goes to track abs trace. My hay fever is pretty bad at the moment and I’ve got negative LFTs

People are right that the read at 30 mins is the only valid one.

But you’ve got a cough so you need a pcr.

Honestly, I see why we are in the mess we are in...

If you have symptoms you should get a pcr test, not retest with lateral flow.

The test instructions specifically say do not read the test beforw 30 minutes.

If you have covid symptoms, isolate and book a pcr test. But it sounds like you dont have any of the three classic symptoms.

Youre a student nurse, you know all this. I suspect you're right that it's your anxiety getting in the way.

You could always ring occupational health for advice if youre really unsure. If you suspect you may have covid, get a pcr test.

A negative LFT does not mean you are definitely negative. If you have any symptoms you should have a pcr as that's the only way to be sure.

There was an NHS message/advert on BBC radio today too about this. A person was coughing and thought it's probably hayfever. The advice given was don't assume it's hay fever get a pcr test.

I don't know your symptoms op and it's really difficult with work etc. Just relaying the advice i heard this morning.

Hi all, pretty sure it's hay fever but I'm going for my PCR at 12.

@MaryGubbins is that aimed at me? I'm having a PCR and since spoken to my manager. I did the right thing in checking and not going to work.

I'm doing everything I'm supposed to be doing, so please done insinuate I'm contributing to the "mess that we are in" because I'm not.

Sounds like you are being v responsible to me! Pcr will confirm but I suspect it’s hayfever

Hi

Apologies if I appeared rude. I am slightly despairing that a year on people are coughing/having symptoms and not automatically booking a pcr. I’ve come across lots of smart, professional people using the lateral flow in place of a pcr and it’s a little wearing. Apologies if I directed that frustration at you as I appreciate you were looking for advice.

@crispychicken12 we would love to know what your result came/ comes back as. Hope you are feeling ok.

My son tested positive on PCR 4 days after the faintest shadow of a line appeared at 45 min, on hi LFT, after test read window. I posted here about it at the time and was told only a result at 30 min counts. So we redid it, read at 30 min, and it was negative so we went ahead with visiting elderly relative.

Thankfully we social distanced and she is fine.

@AvaCallanach

My son tested positive on PCR 4 days after the faintest shadow of a line appeared at 45 min, on hi LFT, after test read window. I posted here about it at the time and was told only a result at 30 min counts. So we redid it, read at 30 min, and it was negative so we went ahead with visiting elderly relative.

Thankfully we social distanced and she is fine.

That’s really interesting. I believe it’s the same on pregnancy tests even though people swear you can’t read them after the time window.