Anyone had negative lateral flows then positive PCR?

[Jo6545]

Me, my husband and our toddler have had cold symptoms for the last 4-5 days, we both then started with a cough yesterday so took a lateral flow (my friend had some spares as she’s a doctor) but we also sent off for a PCR the same day. Lateral flows were negative and to be honest it doesn’t feel worse than a head cold but then last night I totally lost my sense of smell and today lost taste as well. I know lateral flows not as reliable but surely one of us would have tested positive?

We’ve had numerous emails from the school and local government Facebook posts saying symptoms PCR do not use LFT.

The real problem here is that people are only advised to get a PCR test in such a narrow range of circumstances. No context is applied, so if (say) someone has a sore throat and knows that there have been lots of Covid cases at their work recently, they won't be advised to get a PCR test because they don't have any of the "official" symptoms. Professor Tim Spector of the Zoe app has been complaining about this for ages. It's ridiculous that the government has literally spent billions on Test and Trace but still not got the basics right.

Hi I've had covid twice each time lateral flow test all negative for whole week and pcr test positive! I've tested everyday since testing positive n lateral flow test still showing negative! 1 time I was really ill and lost my taste n smell it tested negative just don't get it

Someone I know did daily LFT all negative - work sent her for a PCR as she had a very bad sore throat - came Back positive. She never had a positive LFT.

It’s unbelievable the Gvt still insist on the original 3 classic symptoms - they clearly know they are no longer accurate.

I wish people would understand the difference between "if you have symptoms get a PCR as you need to be more certain, LFTs are really to find asymptomatic people who don't know they have it" and "LFTs don't work if you have symptoms". Of course they do, they don't know if you have symptoms or not, however some will get false reassurance that they don't have it when they do.

And yes, LFTs negative here until after a positive PCR.