Will lateral flow test work?

[Thelazydog]

I've got the "classic" symptoms according to the zoe study - for once vaccinated people, these are apparently headache, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing and fever.

I don't have the fever, but have the other 4 and feel rotten.

As I don't have fever, cough or smell/ taste problem, I can't get a PCR test.

Will lateral flow tests tell me if I have covid? I know they say they're for asymptomatic people, but I'm technically not showing the govt required symptoms, despite being full of other symptoms.

I've done 2 lateral flow, both negative, but I know they don't have 100% accuracy anyway. But are they just maybe not picking it up because I'm gross and mucousy?

@ssd

I thought lft only work if you have no symptoms at all?

You’re not supposed to use them as part of test & trace because they are less likely to pick up an infection than a PCR. But they are designed to be used for symptomatic cases not asymptomatic cases. It’s our government that are using them for an unintended purpose as an extra line of defence.

But a cold is also a virus so you have caught a virus from somewhere. Whether it is Covid or not will hopefully show on the PCR test. Lateral flow tests are meant to be more likely to detect Covid if you have symptoms than if you don’t but are not reliable enough to rule it out in either situation. There are there to pick up some cases that may otherwise have been missed (but won’t get all the asymptomatic cases)

Ds2(11) woke up on Thursday with a headache, then yesterday had a sore throat so we done a lft last night and it's positive. He hasn't had the "main" symptoms for a pcr test and he's too young for the vaccine.

If I hadn't used a lft he would be out spreading covid but I've had to "lie" so he can get a pcr as he doesn't have any of the three main symptoms.

@StrangeAddiction one of the reasons for getting NHS PCR is to confirm a positive home LFT result, regardless of whether the symptoms are present

Lateral flows worked for my daughter who had similar symptoms to you (thought it was probably a cold). But it's dependent on catching it at the right time.
For goodness sake get a PCR test, just tick the box to say you have one of the other "official" symptoms / they can't prove you don't. They badly need to update the list!

As far as I'm aware, if the Zoe app asks you to test without the "three main" symptoms then you don't have to isolate. Of course, if you're ill with anything it's a good idea to minimise interactions and most test results come back quickly now, so even if you were isolating while awaiting results it hopefully wouldn't be for too long.

Covid is absolutely rife where I am at the moment. Especially in kids, who are more often than now showing minimal symptoms. And yes, jabbed adults do appear to be having milder more cold like symptoms. I would definitely book a pcr in your situation. I've got kids going to school etc, and for the small effort it takes me to get a test, I know that I'm hopefully helping stop one means of transmission if I do have it etc. It's inconvenient but the right thing to do IMO

I think you have to have a PCR test, even if you think you are wasting a resource, as it’s bloody everywhere at the moment. My daughter got pinged and is isolating, 7 of her friends now have Covid. My friend works in a school of 1,900, 900 are self isolating. I think this is just about the worst for numbers we’ve had and that’s only the people who do lateral flow/PCR tests, lots thinking they have a sore throat etc won’t be doing any kind of test.

@Thelazydog

I have no objection to getting a PCR test. Are all of you seriously getting PCR tests for all runny noises, sneezing, headaches, and sore throats?! I thought people were only meant to PCR for the classics 3 unless told otherwise, hence my relying on the lateral flow tests.

We can easily isolate till results are back, I have no objection to testing, but am I really meant to test for every headache, runny nose etc from here on in?

Yes!

And yes... We do go and get a pcr for any cold type illness... Because we know that alot of people get covid and have cold type symptoms without getting the high temp, loss of taste or cough....
Our kids school want our children to stay off for a cold... Because they know the last outbreak originated because the person felt off for a couple of days and then fine... So they are being extra cautious... Therefore whenever one of mine get a cold symptom I get them tested just incase and so they can go to school guilt free and not miss time off.
If the government can't handle the pandemic and red list countries appropriately (delta variant) and not feel guilty, then I won't feel guilty about taking extra precautions and getting a pcr when someone in our household is ill with something...

Remember the days when people were wanting to get tested because they felt unwell, but were told not to get tested because they didn't have the 3 symptoms and so were wasting resources... it's hard to keep up with all you rule makers ;)

Anyway, test is done, I'll feel better knowing for sure that I'm not spreading it, and hey, what's one little lie to the government to obtain a test, compared to months of lying from them ;)

We have 3 symptomatic people in this house that have had positive LFT. I have been double jabbed and still got a positive.

The kids who haven't been jabbed have different symptoms to me. LFT all came back strong positives.

So they do work for symptomatic people and those who have had jabs.

Anyway, test is done, I'll feel better knowing for sure that I'm not spreading it, and hey, what's one little lie to the government to obtain a test, compared to months of lying from them ;)

Exactly this OP, trust me people are doing far worse than ticking the wrong box to get a PCR test. After all the gov want to move towards personal responsibility so you are doing this

True

@Thelazydog how are you doing now, is the test result through yet?

Still feeling a little cold-y, but the result is back and is negative, so we're technically released from our isolation :) not feeling like going out much though, and frankly wouldn't want to spread this cold, as then someone else may have this same problem of not being officially able to test blah blah blah... thanks for asking though! I'm def on the mend.

Now just dreading a repeat of this for every headache, runny nose, sore throat, sneezing....for however long we're meant to continue to get tested. With 6 of us in the house, we're going to be isolating a lot, I think!

Really glad to hear you are negative OP! Xx

Thats great you're negative, i dont think you need to isolate at all now

Unless you feel poorly of course, but hood to read you feel a bit better

Good

I'm glad it was negative. Mumsnet absolutely cracks me up. It seems most posters will bend the rule on meet ups and breaking isolation but heaven forbid someone suggest taking a PCR test without the main 3 symptoms. Its only then that people seem to develop a conscience

Hope you feel better soon.

@Northernsoullover yeah... I've not broken any rules. Or bent them. I fricking gave birth alone in lockdown 1, so as not to even slightly bend the no households mixing rule, by having someone in our house for the older 3 kids, even though it would have been allowed. I've done everything I can during this god damned pandemic, so don't accuse me of suddenly finding a conscience. I've followed everything and then some. I'm one of the idiots still trying to do their best and follow rules and reduce possible spread - You want to look down on someone? Look down on the fools watching the match tonight with zero thought for covid spreading. Don't come after me. I have done as much as I can to protect my family and your judgemental ass.

You have my full sympathy OP.

Just because there are loads of tests around, they still cost something. I don’t see anything you’ve done wrong.

I do apologise OP. Believe it or not I wasn't actually referring to your situation just months and months of similar posts got to me
Being as its your post and the way I wrote it I can totally see why you thought I was. I can be a real dick sometimes.