Confused about lateral flow tests.

[user1488819536]

My toddler has already had covid ( found out through a positive PCR test)
A few days ago he came down with a bit of a cold, he coughs a bit first thing when he gets up and then is ok other than a runny nose in the day. He has no temperature and is his usually happy self other than a blocked nose and ear.

I have done three ( under great duress and fight from him) lateral flow tests . All negative

Husband and I have done them too , negative.

Nursery are insisting on a pcr test being negative before he can go in

Does this mean I'm going to have to pin my toddler down and not send him in every time he catches a cold going forward.

You shouldn't have a test for at least 6 weeks after having covid as you can still test positive even though you're not contagious. Nursery should know this.

Yes, because lateral flow tests should not be used if you have symptoms. They are not accurate enough. Nursery are correct to ask for a PCR test and this has been true since January and the introduction of LFTs.

Symptoms= PCR test. Lateral flows are only meant to be a very basic screening tool- although they do actually work better on symptomatic versus asymptomatic individuals due to the increased viral load.

It's the standard procedure, but as PP said if they've recently had covid then the tests are useless.

@user1488819536

My toddler has already had covid ( found out through a positive PCR test) A few days ago he came down with a bit of a cold, he coughs a bit first thing when he gets up and then is ok other than a runny nose in the day. He has no temperature and is his usually happy self other than a blocked nose and ear.

I have done three ( under great duress and fight from him) lateral flow tests . All negative

Husband and I have done them too , negative.

Nursery are insisting on a pcr test being negative before he can go in

Does this mean I'm going to have to pin my toddler down and not send him in every time he catches a cold going forward.

Yes. We are all in the same situation. My middle DC is home again until he gets a negative pcr. We all have to isolate with him until the results come back. It’s not the first time we have been in this situation. Very common.