Hands up if you've tested positive but were (and remained) asymptomatic

[GoldFrankensteinAndGrrr]

Just curious, really.

I'm doing LFTs two or three times a week. Today while poking about up my nose the idle thought occured - how common is it to get a surprise, symptomless positive which remains asymptomatic?

I know that being double jabbed (which I am) reduces the likelihood of symptoms, so am I right in thinking that there'll be quite a number of regular LFTers who get a positive result which never progresses into being symptomatic?

Like I say, just idle curiosity!

I’ve just tested positive (PCR) after five negative LFT in the last week. I’m double-vaxxed. Tested because DH and DD (also double vaxxed) tested positive with mild-ish symptoms.

@OvertiredandConfused

I’ve just tested positive (PCR) after five negative LFT in the last week. I’m double-vaxxed. Tested because DH and DD (also double vaxxed) tested positive with mild-ish symptoms.

There must be so many asymptomatic cases which slip through the net because LFTs show negative. I worry that I might actually be positive when tests show neg - I have underlying health conditions which mimic some of the symptoms I've heard about like aches and pains/headaches/fatigue, which is why I'm being so vigilant with the LFTs.

It's reassuring to know that vaccines are doing their job though and those who catch it are generally either asymptomatic or only very mildly ill.

Sorry for your positive - I hope you stay symptom free and DH and DD's symptoms remain mild

Not me - I’ve tested routinely throughout for work and not had a positive test yet.

But I do know quite few others who were shocked to get a positive test.

I tested positive immediately after having my first Covid jab - symptomless other than one evening of classic post-oxford-jab reaction. Had a string of -ve LF immediately before and after my +ve PCR.

1 in 3 cases are asymptomatic

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing/regular-rapid-coronavirus-tests-if-you-do-not-have-symptoms/

I had a PCR as part of the ons COVID study on Tuesday and it came back positive. I’d had no symptoms that I thought were COVID at all. Just had my usual issues from being low in iron, d, b12 and peri menopausal. Wouldn’t have known had it not been for the study.

I’m now isolating until Friday (they didn’t notify me until Saturday afternoon). I’ve taken two LFT since and they both showed negative.

DH took a PCR Saturday evening and that came back negative.

We are both double jabbed.

I’m hoping that I don’t get any symptoms now and that DH doesn’t either

Oh and DH also had the test same time as me on the Tuesday and was negative.

Me. I tested positive but remained asymptomatic throughout.

I does concern me that so many LFTs are negative and PCRs positive. Makes it all rather pointless.
I have never tested positive using LFTs. I’ve never had a PCR and I don’t appear to have had symptoms. I bet I have had covid at some point though.

My Ds had a positive pcr test with no symptoms at all. His siblings and I all had positive pcr tests with symptoms but he had none whatsoever.
His Appetite was fine, no temp or cough, no tiredness, no sore throat, no headaches - nothing

We didn't have lft at the time but from others who have since tested positive, it seems lft aren't 100% accurate

“Most (81%) of symptomatic COVID-19 cases are mild and remain mild in severity.”

Source: patient.info/news-and-features/coronavirus-what-are-asymptomatic-and-mild-covid-19

In answer to your question, how common is it to get a surprise, symptomless positive which remains asymptomatic?

“In conclusion, one-fourth of SARS-CoV-2 infections are remained asymptomatic throughout the course infection.”

Source: journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0249090

These articles are pre-vaccine and pre-delta. It’s hard to find data on unvaccinated people now - except studies looking at young people/children and they were always likely to have asymptomatic/mild cases.

[quote thedevilinablackdress]1 in 3 cases are asymptomatic

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing/regular-rapid-coronavirus-tests-if-you-do-not-have-symptoms/[/quote]
I remember this being the case pre-vaccines, but surely now that figure must be higher given vaccines reduce symptoms so dramatically? I suppose there's no way of knowing for sure because people without symptoms aren't as likely to take a test.

Lfts are estimated to pick up 30% of cases. One study from Birmingham uni discovered they only picked up 10% of cases that were positive on a pcr (and pcrs are only pick up around 70% of cases with one test).
A more recent study showed that if you do one every single day and are symptomatic there is almost a 70% chance it will pick it up at some point during the infection.
It's very worrying that the government is pushing these fairly useless tests as a way to keep everyone safe. I think there was another study that said because people changed their behaviour based on them and do them instead of a pcr because it's easier, they actually ended up contributing to rising covid rates.

Also all these asymptomatic cases in the double vaxxed does make me wonder how useful the vaccine passports are. If I didn't have symptoms and was double jabbed I could quite merrily go to a club/gig/whatever which required one and still unknowingly be infected. I could even do a neg LFT, be double jabbed and still pass it on.

Thank goodness so many people are fully vaccinated and therefore unlikely to get very ill if they were exposed to covid!

It's very worrying that the government is pushing these fairly useless tests as a way to keep everyone safe

Absolutely. I'm completely baffled as to why they are.

@GoldFrankensteinAndGrrr

It's very worrying that the government is pushing these fairly useless tests as a way to keep everyone safe

Absolutely. I'm completely baffled as to why they are.

Yep. Visiting my unwell post op mum in hospital. I do one every time I go. I think it is probably pointless. I do it anyway.

@BigButtons I'm not sure what the alternative is though. Until more reliable LFTs are introduced, which surely must be a priority (although with this government I won't hold my breath).

Sorry your mum's unwell. for you both and I hope she has a speedy recovery.

@GoldFrankensteinAndGrrr thank you. You are right. There is no alternative.
2 double vaxxed friends have just got over their second bout of covid.
They went on holiday in the uk, a few weeks ago-did tests on the morning they left ( negative)and started to feel unwell on the evening of their arrival.
They felt progressively unwell during the week and returned home. Did another test( positive). So when they did their first test they had covid but it was negative. Therefore they went on holiday. Why wouldn’t you.
Luckily they didn’t pass it on to any of the friends they visited during the week.