Do you HAVE to do a PCR if you have a positive LTF?

[PeoplePleaserBe]

Just that…do you HAVE to do a PCR if you have a positive lateral flow test? Can’t seem to find the answer on the Government site.

Thankyou.

One of the reasons I wouldn't is because of the incessant pestering and phone calls from test and trace if I felt ill.

@Xmasbaby11

I can't think why you wouldn't, especially if you're going to isolate anyway. If you don't, you'll never truly know. If you're positive it'll be added to your medical records and who knows how important this will be in years to come.

If you're finding it too inconvenient to go to a test centre, get a postal test. It's important for government figures too so we can see what's going on with covid.

I think that if you test positive and other household members do, particularly if you've had contact with a positive case, it's pretty conclusive. Also false positive LFTs are very rare.

As for your medical record - I mentioned it to my GP, so it's on mine.

The only issue would be if you needed a PCR within 90 days for travel etc, and the possibility of a positive. That wasn't a consideration for me.

I don't think you have to by law but it's advisable for all reasons given above.

I was in hospital with covid and the person in the next bed was unvaccinated and hadn't done PCR. Nor had the rest of her family who all had covid. She had tested positive on a LFT 2 weeks earlier. The hospital tested her and informed T&T. Test and trace called her. It was extremely complicated and she was made to isolate for another 10 days from the date of the hospital test, as were her adult DC.

@MossyBottom

I don't think you have to by law but it's advisable for all reasons given above.

I was in hospital with covid and the person in the next bed was unvaccinated and hadn't done PCR. Nor had the rest of her family who all had covid. She had tested positive on a LFT 2 weeks earlier. The hospital tested her and informed T&T. Test and trace called her. It was extremely complicated and she was made to isolate for another 10 days from the date of the hospital test, as were her adult DC.

If you're hospitalised with covid your isolation resets from the day you're discharged, I thought?

If you're hospitalised with covid your isolation resets from the day you're discharged, I thought?
Yes I was told to isolate for another 10 days on discharge by the hospital, I hadn't thought about it but she was presumably told the same when she was discharged.
But all this persons family were told to isolate from the day of her pcr even though they claimed to have already isolated.

I would take one just because then its official on your notes

For like long covid support etc

If you're finding it too inconvenient to go to a test centre, get a postal test. It's important for government figures too so we can see what's going on with covid

Over 1000 people every day for the last month or so have just taken an LFD and not had it confirmed, there's no value at all to the stats here, it doesn't tell us much at all.

It is entirely up to you to if you do one, I don't particularly see the point if you're reasonably confident the LFD is not a false positive (ie you've been in recent contact with cases and it's not surprising)

You don’t need to if you are going to isolate anyway, but if you mean so that you don’t have to isolate then you are a selfish f**ker.

Well it's useful if you do test positive on a PCR as it means that if you have to be tested before going travelling, or to hospital, you don't have to be PCRed beforehand for ninety days. I have a hospital admission later this month and my positive PCR test from July means I don't have to be tested again. Which is handy, as it avoids a 60 mile round trip to the hospital two days beforehand.

You are right - it is not a legal requirement.

One of the reasons I wouldn't is because of the incessant pestering and phone calls from test and trace if I felt ill.

This. DD has covid (caught from school, apart from me going to LIDL none of us have interacted with anyone else) and I feel shit now. We're all going to isolate with DD for 10 days after getting symptoms because I cannot face the T and T bollocks.

One of the reasons I wouldn't is because of the incessant pestering and phone calls from test and trace if I felt ill

Yes. They’re fucking relentless.

If I had a positive lft I probably wouldn’t bother. I would let anyone that needed to know know but I don’t come into close contact with anyone that isn’t under 18 or vaccinated so they won’t have to isolate.

Stories I’ve heard on here about t&t incessantly calling have put me off. I’d just stay at home and isolate myself, obviously.
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