After testing positive, when LF turns negative...

[toadstool32]

...does that mean you're no longer infectious? PCR positive on Sunday, LF negative yesterday. Obviously I'll continue to complete my self isolation period but wondered if I'm now no longer contagious? NB: double jabbed and pregnant

I don’t think LF mean anything much - they are too unreliable. I would ignore the LF result.

LFTs are maybe 40% effective. Many people who test positive on the PCR still test negative on the LFTs throughout the infection.
They're just tools to increase the chances of catching positive cases you have no idea about at home. Anyone experiencing symptoms needs a PCR but too many people are thinking they're okay because an LFT says so.

When my son had covid in May he was only positive on lateral flow for one day. So my faith in them disappeared. However a few of us in our house currently have covid (one dc is totally symptom free) and is still testing strong positive every day. I was thinking it was the new style ones that were more sensitive (flow flex) but it's not, I found a box of the original ones and they still are positive.
Dh has had it for a week and tested him yesterday and still positive.

Surely it's a way of monitoring viral load decreasing? My lateral flow lines (flow flex) have got lighter each day to negative.

I tested positive on a PCR on Sunday and I have tested myself with the new LFT every day since and it's been negative every day, so I am loosing all hope in those.

How are you feeling op?

My LFTs never showed positive at all so I really don't think they're reliable.

Fwiw I've just tested on an older style lft and also negative

And it was very positive on Sunday same day as pcr

Honestly, LFTs are more bloody trouble than they're worth! They're SO unreliable but vast numbers of people don't seem to understand that!!

Oh I totally get that they're unreliable. But in the 18months we've been using them I've never had a positive apart from Sunday which coincided with a positive pcr. Since then they've lightened to now stark negative.

My OH went away and came back positive. Had 20mins contact with him and then he isolated when LFT came back positive.
I've done 2 LFT's every day all week all negative, including yesterday morning when my positive PCR came back! 🤷‍♀️ defo know I've got it!

DS2 tested + on LFT Monday night, so then booked a PCR for Tuesday am, also +. He took an LFT yesterday out of interest and it was negative. We will still follow all the rules of course. He has had a very very mild case.

My DH did a LFT whilst he tested positive, they slowly got lighter until completely clear. The clear test was the day before his isolation ended.

I agree that it must show the viral load.

I think lfts are completely useless except in cases when they pick up and asymptomatic positive, otherwise they literally give you no useful information. It’s not like a pregnancy test. Hope you are better soon and it’s a smooth ride for you.