PCR question

[SpeckledFrogsLog]

DS17 went to the Reading Festival, returning on Monday. Tuesday he woke up feeling ill with a high temp so I took him for a PCR test which came back negative. Two of his friends have since tested positive and as a result he's been pinged but according to the rules doesn't have to isolate (I have been making him do so).

Yesterday he had cold symptoms develop and today he also has a cough. Temp is still on the high side of normal.

LFT is showing negative.

Would you take him for another PCR? Is it possible that the one he did on Tuesday was too early to show up positive? He's supposed to go to college today to do his pre-starting LFT but I just don't think it's a great idea for him to go on public transport.

Any opinions or experiences of negative PCRs prior to a positive one would be appreciated.

Personally I would get another because I’d want to know (though you’d have thought if he had symptoms for the first test the PCR would have picked it up).

Yes. I would 100% get another one.
Those festivals have had Covid running rampant!

I know! I was amazed that the test came back negative! He's just told me that he put Vick on his chest last night and couldn't smell it so I'm definitely booking another one.

yeah definitely. It he won't physically go get him a postal one and keep him in in the meantime.
False negative PCRs are rare but do happen.
Hope he feels better soon.

Yes I would. I wouldn't want to run the risk of infecting family or close contacts. The rules are stupid now.

Yes I would.

DH took him at lunch time. It'll be interesting to see whether this one is positive. Not letting him out of his room in the meantime!

Interestingly another one of his friends has the same symptoms as DS but has now had two negative PCRs. However he's also been pinged so his mom contacted their GP for advice who recommended that he isolate for the full 10 days as he has been in close contact with multiple cases and has more than 2 symptoms. As you say-all very confusing!!

Update - second PCR was positive! I suspect what he was feeling on Tuesday was mainly exhaustion from the festival and that we'd tested him a little too early.

I'm in the process of nailing his bedroom door shut so he can't infect the rest of us