Symptoms (ish) for 3 days before getting a positive test

[Rhica]

Anyone else had symptoms for a while before getting positive result? This happened to me. 3 days of mild cold symptoms testing negative (on lft mind) then day 4 a big fat positive

If i hadn't been anticipating a positive (just been on a cruise where covid was rife 🙈) I think I would have just assumed cold and stopped testing... Which makes this post kind of pointless as guessing that's what most people would do 🤣

Does make you wonder how many have been in this position. Assume cold given a pcr or lft was negative and then never isolated. The downfall of testing... Only successful if viral load sufficient enough at that snappoint in time

My recommendation is to keep testing with lft even if pcr negative

My DD had symptoms just like a cold and negative tests (LFT) for a few days and then suddenly a positive LFT then PCR.
But she did then get a high temperature and loss of taste and smell. She is 14 so unvaccinated.

Yes. Ds had a sore throat from Tuesday, but didn't test positive until Friday. His year group had a closed and other dc were testing positive each day, which is why he tried again and got a positive eventually.

Uuuum. Lateral flow tests don't work. They have a 50 percent false negative rate. They're a Tory PR stunt.

This isn't news.

@WaterBottle123

Uuuum. Lateral flow tests don't work. They have a 50 percent false negative rate. They're a Tory PR stunt.

This isn't news.

They do work, but they don't work reliably in people with a low viral load, which is why many other countries don't use them.

What needs to happen urgently is for the "official symptom list" for PCR tests to be updated to include cold symptoms, especially now so many people are vaccinated and that might be all they get. Everyone I know who has had Covid recently has suffered mainly cold symptoms, then only sometimes has the cough, fever or loss of smell and taste later kicked in.

If you have cold symptoms I would recommend that you get a PcR test then you will have your definitive answer.

Lateral flows shouldn't be used if you have symptoms.

When I had Covid back in January my DH and DS did a PCR test which came back negative. They tested again 4 days later and were positive.

That's why they're saying PCR at onset of symptoms.... How long have we been doing this now! It's not hard. And in the meantime while faffing around with LFTs you've been infecting others with your covid.

@HalloHello

That's why they're saying PCR at onset of symptoms.... How long have we been doing this now! It's not hard. And in the meantime while faffing around with LFTs you've been infecting others with your covid.

This with bells on! I struggle to understand why people still do not understand the difference between LFTs and PCRs. It's been drummed into us for months.

@HalloHello @Icequeen01 assume the OP did do a pcr at the onset as per the last sentence of her OP. Lots of people are testing negative on PCR at onset and are doing regular lft's and then getting a positive some time down the line

Just to clarify. It was that sort of inset of cold feeling before you actually get a cold. Definitely not enough to warrent a pcr test. Like when you think... I might be coming down with something or I might shake it off.

I followed government guidelines to a tee ✌️

Nothing to add except that I'm curious about your covid ridden cruise?
I thought cruises would be safer, lessons learned and all that, only double vaxxed and tested passengers? Was it abroad? Did you not have to do pcrs before and after?

@fizziwater yes you twat to get on and unvaccinated guests half way through the cruise.

The problem is you can be negative when you get on then positive a few days later hence covid has an entrance to the ship

Cruises are haven for viruses anyway. But as such have procedures in place to tackle them. Tend to do a lot more cleaning and hand sanitisation areas in comparison to hotels even pre covid (mainly to prevent norovirus)

But. Hand sanitising and mask wearing wasn't enforced well on this cruise. I made effort to sanitise my hands constantly but with a 4year old and 1 year old who touch everything, eat everything and then hold my hand I was aware I was putting myself at higher risk and accepted it.

Plus since covid also effects staff means ship understaffed. Which in turn means less cleaners, bigger queues. Self service buffet 🙈

Apparently outbreak so big now they are being stricter.

Ermm that should have said tested not twat 😳🙈

LFTs are supposed to be used every few days. People shouldn’t be using them only when they’ve got cold symptoms.

It's certainly not an exact science OP, I was in a similar situation and went on to be positive but had assumed the worst due to confirmed contact and already isolating. It's did make me wonder what if I have just taken the negative PCR and LFTs as the definitive result and assumed it was just a cold/ other virus and carried on life as normal.