Does this test look positive to you?

[FurrySlipperBoots]

What do you think?

@FurrySlipperBoots

Right?! So how come the PCR taken the next day came back as negative?! What I'm wondering is if the lateral flow tests are so inaccurate people think they have a mild dose/are symptom-less, and are self isolating without cause!

So why not put that in op? Can't stand threads that lead you down the garden path for no good reason. It's a waste of everyone's time, causes lots of posts from people who haven't read the updates and achieves nothing.

@TeaAndBisquits I'm sorry you have it. Hope it's not too rough a ride.

I can understand it being that way round, but surely like with pregnancy tests a false negative is possible whereas a false positive is extremely, extremely unlikely.

@FurrySlipperBoots

Right?! So how come the PCR taken the next day came back as negative?! What I'm wondering is if the lateral flow tests are so inaccurate people think they have a mild dose/are symptom-less, and are self isolating without cause!

You’re not suppose to get a positive lateral flow test and then just isolate. You’re supposed to book a PCR test because LFT are not as accurate. People will only be needlessly isolating if they don’t bother to read up on the rules or just put fruit shoot on their LFT so they can get out of school.

@FurrySlipperBoots Thankyou, I've got no symptoms whatsoever and only took the PCR for work purposes! (Healthcare setting)

Yeah, I think you're right actually, it's definitely more common to get a false negative than a false positive. It's all so confusing!

It is possible, but uncommon, to get a false positive with an LFT. Did you wait 30 minutes after eating or drinking? For example, here's an explanation of how pH can affect the test:

www.theweek.co.uk/news/science-health/953382/how-children-are-using-science-and-soft-drinks-to-fake-positive-covid

PCR tests can also have false negatives, particularly early on in the infection. One study found on day 1 of infection, there was a 100% chance of a false negative, 67% on day 4, falling to 38% on day 5 after the onset of symptoms, 20% by day 8.

Op I was exposed to covid by my mum who tested positive on Tuesday, I had a positive LFT followed by 2 negative PCRs

It's strange, I don't rely on lateral flows I always confirm with PCR

It's either a line or someone has drawn a line on with a pen

If you check the LFT longer than 30 mins after doing the test it can show as a false positive. How long after the test did you check the result? Hope you’re ok!

Latest research worth a read, as LFT seem to be quite effective.

@chesirecat99

I was wondering about that. It was that meltingly hot day so I had drunk water within 30 mins, but nothing else and no food within the hour. Could water have done it?

@VouisLuitton

It was showing as positive within 10 minutes!

This very obvious positive was a negative PCR too, one of the negative LFTs taken at the same time was a positive PCR. Cold symptoms in positive LFT, slight sore throat and tickly cough in positive PCR. Interestingly I too had same tickly cough and sore throat but negative LFT, negative PCR and negative antibody test a month later. Nothing is 100 per cent, I’d personally treat a positive LFT as a positive and isolate household accordingly from my household experience.

There have been at least 3 cases recently in my kids school of positive lateral flow tests but negative PCRs, so yes, they're not always accurate.

That's like asking if my dog has a nose. FFS.

I’d retest in a couple of days if you have symptoms. These are my LFT’s, the first 2 before PCR was confirmed positive, could barely see it. Next day a very strong line. My kids were a stronger line (we are all positive now) but all positive PCR. They do say a false positive is much less likely than a false negative

PCRs only pick up 70% of cases on average, even when done by a health professional.
There can be false positive lateral flows, but it's far more likely to be a false negative PCR, especially as you have a few mild symptoms.
Water wouldn't have any effect, no.