LFTS are pretty much useless with Delta, aren't they?

[MareofBeasttown]

DS, 17, is positive. He had his first Pfizer jab last week, and then had mild body ache and fatigue, which we thought were due to the vax. Did two LFTS, was negative on both. Symptoms persisted and he got a sore throat, so we got a PCR. Positive! Isolating now but I guess we may all get it.

We should have done a PCR right away but we did confuse the symptoms with the vax side effects.

It is such a strange illness - to be so different for different people, and despite vaccinations. And losing my sense of taste/small has been so strange.

Interested to see ‘weeping’ as a symptom on that other thread also. I am certainly not in tip top mental health - perhaps not surprising after ten days on my own (apart from family I live with). But helpful to know I’m not alone (other than actually being physically alone!!!)

I can’t wait to wander around our local area again from tomorrow.

The loss of smell and taste is the worst part for me, I really enjoy good food and flavours. I'm praying that it doesn't last for weeks/months like it has for others.

@dontyouworrydontyouworrynow

We'll see, I've had 2 negative LFTs over the last few days when I started feeling a bit coldy but took a PCR today as started with a bit of a fever so wanted to be sure.

Will find out when the results come in!

My PCR was also negative, so I have just got a cold, not COVID.

DD’s friend has done 2 lfts tonight - both positive. Got a pcr booked now. She has been feeling rough for a few days, but not ‘covid symptoms’ so has been doing a lft test daily before work.

My teenage son just tested positive after being at a festival with friends at weekend. 6 of them got it, all negative lateral flows (DS took a couple over a few days) but all positive PCRs

In Cornwall by any chance?

Yes!

My DD was saying that lots are posting online that they have tested positive after boardmasters! Her friend hasn’t but she has had covid recently.

LFT or a tool, they screen large numbers in the population, and pick up most infections.

They are useful on a population level, but not on an individual level.

So, for example they prevent most infectious children attending school, but they are not proof that any one individual is not infected

I read on here (and I know you cant believe everything you read!) that the Delta variant wasnt always picked upon a PCR....but I thought those were the more sensitive tests? So how would you know a) you had it and b) it was the Delta variant if it wasnt picked up on PCR? What other testing methods are there?

@careandattention
In June this year the US Food and Drug Agency (FDA) warned the US public to stop using the Innova test for detecting infection and suggested that any unused tests should be destroyed, binned, or returned
Well, that's unfortunate - the NHS staff are given the Innova ones in huge boxes.
We do them as a family and assume that if we are all negative that is a confirmation in itself. I wouldn't necessarily just do one test on one person and take it to be accurate. But the accuracy increases when several negatives are produced at the same time within one household

Family of four. We all used Innova LFTs last weekend (NHS). One tested +ve, other three -ve. We all then took PCRS, which were the same, so Innova worked for us. (The positive one didn’t have any symptoms at the time, but has since lost sense of taste and smell.)

Hi,
Has anyone ever had a faint positive home LFT followed by two negative ones in the same day 🤔
Would it be safe to say it’s a false positive?
TIA

Seriously I'd get a PCR ours came back in 18 hours this week.

My dc tested positive on Tuesday on LFT. Did PCR Wednesday but still waiting for results , seems to be list in system. He was obviously positive though so I’m not sure it’s worth chasing .

DH has symptom (temperature, headache, sore throat) and had positive LFT and waiting the results of PCR. I now have possible symptoms (sore throat, tickly cough)with a negative LFT so have booked PCR just in case. Both double jabbed and could really do without this but still as long as not really ill we have to be grateful for this.

The problem with lft is that they are often used by people in place of PCR. The false negative rate on on them is apparently high, especially if not used properly and from what I've heard they tend to show positive after a day or two of symptoms when peak infectiousness is when you are presymtomatic.

If the original idea was to screen people who were asymptomatic who would otherwise be completely missed they were useful but now of course they are used for far more than that. Not sure that is unique to delta though.

I think while LFTs might not always pick up every case they are picking up cases with symptoms where people might not otherwise think they need a PCR test. Government website still lists the same 3 symptoms for testing temp, cough, loss of taste or smell. Delta has a wide range of symptoms which people might otherwise dismiss so if the LFTs are picking up some positives in these instances they are a good tool.

I had a positive LFT that was then confirmed by PCR. Only symptoms were sore throat and stuffy nose.