Track and trace confusion please help

[Delorespetcat]

DS had a positive LF test- done at home. Was advised to get a PCR which came back negative. Track and trace called and said he was negative and as a result no longer had to quarantine. DS queried if this was the case as he still has symptoms. The call handler said he was fine to stop isolating. They then call back and say actually you have to continue to isolate as you have symptoms.

Is this accurate? They called DH and I to say we no longer has to isolate but haven’t had a call back to advise us that advice has now changed.

Anyone been in a similar position? What would you do? Should I attempt to call tomorrow and get some clarification?

tricky one. IN the first instance I think I would do another LFT. If positive again then I would send him for another PCR. False negatives definitely can happen.

If negative on the LFT I would assume a. he has a cold or similar and b. he got a false positive on the first one. False positives on LFTs are relatively common.

Depends what the symptoms are tbh

He had a cough and temperature on the day he took the initial LF test. It now seems like a cold as he has a headache and is very stuffy.

We are worried about DD missing a week or school unnecessarily. Track and trace advised DS isolate but haven’t contacted myself or DH to advise us to do the same.

I’d do another lft and go from there.

I've just looked at my last negative PCR test, and it says in the blurb that I don't have to isolate unless it follows a positive LFT and I've been told to continue to isolate. So I guess there's a reason / set of circumstances that mean he has to isolate still? God knows what though - I thought the PCR was the 'gold standard'

Get another PCR. That'll rule it out. It is test and trace though, not track. That's a postal thing.

www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-test-and-trace-how-it-works#how-nhs-test-and-trace-works

Part 1, bullet point 3. Self isolating is optional for negative PCR result but still exhibiting symptoms.

@goddessofmischief I should know the name by now but I still get it mixed up , thanks!

@Yellow85 thank you for the link! That is exactly what I needed. So DS can choose if he wishes to continue to isolate and DD, DH and myself are now out of isolation, brilliant!

Can I just say (because I am sick of seeing 'Its a postal thing') that in parts of the UK that it is indeed called Track and Trace.

I’d get another PCR too… or at the very least another lateral flow.

@Northernsoullover
It’s not officially called that anywhere. Test, trace and protect in Wales as the third entry on your screenshot clearly shows and the fourth one is over a year old.
Everyone anecdotally calls it track and trace though I agree with that. But the “test” part is obviously by far the most important bit!