DS had Covid, should I say no to school LFT?

[Pandapooks]

Hi - my son (and quite a few of his class!) tested positive for Covid in July just before the end of term. He is due to start secondary school soon and we had a letter describing the first few days induction "which will include a lateral flow test as per government guidelines". No consent form or anything although when schools first started testing i had one for his older brother.
I thought I had read somewhere that it was advisable not to test for 90 days following a positive case. Don't know whether to refuse test or not (assuming we get asked! ) He is absolutely fine now but in my imagination he will randomly test positive and will be sent home to isolate in his first week!

Instead of just saying no, maybe explain the situation, that he had tested positive on xx day, within 90 days?

Yes, I am in same boat although our covid is more recent. I am not getting him to do tests. It's not as longa s 90 days btw - 56 for a PCR.

I'll send the school an email to explain.

Cheers, I felt sure I had seen something about 90 days but have been trying to find something definitive. I don't want to come across as awkward or like I'm trying to find excuses

I tried to find a 'ruling' too but I don't think there is one. I only know the PCR one because of amass testing we had at my school.

I thought it was just for PCRs as they are more sensitive? I'm due back to work this week after my isolation ends and I've been asked to do a LFT, track and trace told me it was fine to do those but not PCRs

I think it is a bit confusing. Interestingly, I did a LFT out of curiosity, tested negative and then was tested positive on a PCR when admitted to hospital , so I wasn't OK!

I think if they are doing screening to readmit kids to school, they don't recommend a LFT for about 28 days.

He wont flag a positive LFT this far past infection. It’s the PCR test that could still pick it up.

Why not just do a LFT at home to check it comes up negative before him doing the school one?

Check at home first?

I emailed school to say we wouldn't be doing LFTs due to a positive test and they removed my boys from the list. Their positive tests were 28th July and the school advise 90 days.

Just email and explain. They'll take them off the list.

The 'up to 90 days' is for a pcr as they are more sensitive. My DH and DS both had Covid (pos lft confirmed by pos pcr) in July and tested neg again on a lateral flow 2 weeks later. My DS just did a pcr last week for fit to fly and that was also negative again. Do a home lft to see what the result is before hand

The testing booklets are still saying not to test again with an LFT before 90 days are up, if that helps?

If your PCR test is positive you DO NOT need to self-test using the LFD for 90 days, from the date you became positive.

We had it at the end of July and this has been on my mind. I have kept the emails and texts with the date showing we were positive. They will do the tests in school and if they come up positive I will tackle it then with the evidence that they were recently positive. I can’t think of any other way of doing it.

We've withdrawn consent for DS with a similar time line.

Will consent if they ask again after half term.

@Getawaywithit

We had it at the end of July and this has been on my mind. I have kept the emails and texts with the date showing we were positive. They will do the tests in school and if they come up positive I will tackle it then with the evidence that they were recently positive. I can’t think of any other way of doing it.

It’s fine to say to the school that they are still within the 90 days so to avoid testing for now and those students will just go to class or form group as normal etc. That’s what happened last March (and how I found out how many of my Form Group tested positive at Christmas!) From what I have found guidance-wise, a positive test even within 90 days still needs to self isolate, annoyingly.

Yup, happened to me ... 2 positive tests in 15 days= endless isolation.

DD had Covid in June, confirmed by PCR, and was testing negative on LFT a week later so it may all be fine. Do a LFT now for peace of mind?

Hadn't even thought about this! Ds had Covid in July but m has had negative LFTs since then.

I wouldn’t worry about LFTs, they’re not very sensitive. Definitely true that you can test positive with PCR if you’ve had Covid but recovered, but don’t think that’s the case with LFTs at all.

I think you can get a letter of recovery from your GP instead? My niece had Covid, recovered and managed to fly on one of those letters not long afterwards.

Thanks all.
@ChloeDecker I think that is where I saw the 90 day thing! It had been really bugging me.
I think I will send an email to explain and then carry on with LFTs later on, assuming that is what they want us to do

I don't give consent to do the tests at school but do them ourselves at home, so that is always an option too.

@Pandapooks

Cheers, I felt sure I had seen something about 90 days but have been trying to find something definitive. I don't want to come across as awkward or like I'm trying to find excuses

The 90 days is the PCR test not the LFT test, However I would mention to the school he tested positive in July

Came on here to query the same thing!! It can show up on a covid test for many weeks.

I don't really get this...it is possible to get it more than once. and after a case or vaccinated?

Both my DCs have had a dose of the vaccine now, does that mean we shouldn't have to do tests?