To be sick of people relying on lateral flows when sick.

[kakeya97]

It's been widely said that lft tests aren't accurate and many people are ill with symptoms and been negative on a Lft but positive on a pcr.

A parent at the school picking up today says they sick with a cough and fever but had done a lateral flow... distances from said person

I believe they give people a false sense of reassurance even though it's widely stated they are for asymptomatic testing either.

Dd was poorly a short while and we took her for a pcr which was negative. After telling mil she said why didn't wr go over there for a lft she had in the cupboard. I explained that she had symptoms (cough) and needed a pcr but I don't think she took it in. Said the tests were very good because they have 'nhs' written on them. I gave up trying to explain.

Another friend has bad cold symptoms. Likely just a cold but has relied on lft tests.

I just don't what people don't understand about it - if you have any of the symptoms of covid - get a pcr test. The results are coming back so fast. I know lft tests seem convenient as they are rapid - but rapid means unreliable.

The problem is while the results come back quickly they are not that quick for instance I have had to take the day off work today despite me being fairly certain all I have is a cold as I seem to have caught it off someone I work with whose PCR was negative. Not saying its right but thats the reason, people are done with taking at least 1 day off work/school everytime they get a cough or have a temperature.

Me and DS did two lateral flows each whilst waiting for DH positive PCR result. All negative. Get PCR tested after husband tested positive .... DS positive and me negative. I did a couple more lateral flows in the 2 days following ... all negative. I got symptoms ... another negative pcr test. Didn't trust the result as started feeling worse so did another pcr and just tested positive today. So between three of us with covid, only one has tested positive on a lateral flow

My husband tested positive on a LFT two Sundays ago and negative on PCR the following day.

We didn’t understand it because he had started having symptoms.

While a second PCR’s results were taking forever to arrive (they actually never did), he did another LFT and my goodness, the darkest second line I’ve ever seen. This was Thursday.

Did a third PCR test yesterday and results arrived today, Positive

Something either went wrong with the Monday PCR test or it was too early to test.

If he had gone with the Negative result and thought the symptoms were a cold, he would have infected countless people this week.

Because if we had to PCR every time we got a 'symptom' (from the ever-increasing list of symptoms, at a time when there are LOADS of colds, chest infections and tummy bugs going around) we'd never be in school or work.

We just can't take the 2 days off every time we have a sniffle (1 day to get the test, 1 day to wait for the results).

And for the record we've also had a tonne of PCRs to be on the safe side too ... all negative. I get that LFTs aren't as accurate but they're a damn sight more practical.

I know someone who works for the NHS, kids have had temps and coughs quite often and she never tests and if she does it’s LFT. Then asks to meet up. No thanks.

Because it's cold and flu season and for many people going for a PCR test is a ball ache and then waiting for the results when an lft is within 30 mins. Pcr is even worse if you cant drive or access a walk through.

@eyeslikebutterflies

Because if we had to PCR every time we got a 'symptom' (from the ever-increasing list of symptoms, at a time when there are LOADS of colds, chest infections and tummy bugs going around) we'd never be in school or work.

We just can't take the 2 days off every time we have a sniffle (1 day to get the test, 1 day to wait for the results).

And for the record we've also had a tonne of PCRs to be on the safe side too ... all negative. I get that LFTs aren't as accurate but they're a damn sight more practical.

I wasn't talking about sniffles. I wouldn't test at all of my kids had sickness that presented like norovirus. I was talking the symptoms the government tells you to test for.

I (teacher) have been sending home otherwise-sensible students who are coughing and sneezing but “it’s ok I did a test this morning”.

They do not understand the difference between LFT and PCR despite very clear communication from school.

@eyeslikebutterflies

Because if we had to PCR every time we got a 'symptom' (from the ever-increasing list of symptoms, at a time when there are LOADS of colds, chest infections and tummy bugs going around) we'd never be in school or work.

We just can't take the 2 days off every time we have a sniffle (1 day to get the test, 1 day to wait for the results).

And for the record we've also had a tonne of PCRs to be on the safe side too ... all negative. I get that LFTs aren't as accurate but they're a damn sight more practical.

This.

@HipTightOnions

I (teacher) have been sending home otherwise-sensible students who are coughing and sneezing but “it’s ok I did a test this morning”.

They do not understand the difference between LFT and PCR despite very clear communication from school.

My children's school (primary) have made it very clear that if children have symptoms of covid that a pcr is needed as many people were relying on lft tests 😩 thankfully mine hav dbeen otherwise fine other than Dd needing a test a little while ago which was negative.

It's not like isolation even comes into it anymore. Double jabbed, under 18's don't even have to isolate whilst waiting for family
members results...

To add Dd had pcr results within 11 hours recently. To me there is just not excuse!

It's not like isolation even comes into it anymore. Double jabbed, under 18's don't even have to isolate whilst waiting for family members results...

Well isolation does come into it because if you have symptoms you have to isolate until you get the results and if you have a child who has symptoms you have to have time off work to look for them while they isolate.

Because if you have mild symptoms (sneezing, runny nose, headache, a bit of a cough) and you've already missed time off work isolating from being a close contact, it's hard justify the time off while waiting for PCR results. Not too bad if you can access a testing centre, but the postal tests take around a week or so from ordering to getting the result. My colleague didn't get a PCR test with a cold and mild cough, and getting to a testing site would be two buses and a train each way.

I do see your point but they can't all be false negatives can they?

We've got parents sending their kids to school with symptoms and no tests. Not even the lateral flow test. She said ohh he's got a fever and cough...I just give him calpol and he's fine....

How unfair for everyone else to now have to test because others refuse to?

No wonder it’s spreading, yet again people are putting others at risk and being selfish.

Why?

DD had flu last week, bad cough, temp, sneezing etc and I kept her at home after a negative PCR so others in her class didn’t have to do the same!!

Why wouldn’t you?

People will trust 1 LFT despite having all the Covid symptoms and still go out with no mask on and stand 4cm from strangers. People are dicks. If people dying won't stop them from being selfish, nothing will.

But they are 95% accurate and that's an acceptable accuracy for most people, as pp have said it's cold season now and people are not able to put their lives on hold for 2 days waiting for a PCR test when employers are much less flexible about matters surrounding covid..

So what do you suggest stay home book a pcr and wait for results? That’s great in theory but a lot of colds going about so in reality it’s not practical to keep doing this hence why if double jabbed and a contact you don’t isolate. You seem to have missed the memo that we need to learn to live with it now . If someone has took a test it’d be good enough for me .

Not saying its right but thats the reason, people are done with taking at least 1 day off work/school everytime they get a cough or have a temperature.

In the real world people can’t just keep taking time off work. If an LFT says negative then for most people that’s good enough.

I tested Saturday morning and still waiting for results so it’s likely I’ll have at least 2 days off from work. But I do agree with you that too many people are relying on lateral flows instead of PCRs. The government need to make sure that everyone is getting their results within 24 hours.

I wasn't really talking about when people have cold symptoms. I've known people to have fevers (adults don't tend to get a fever with w cold), very bad coughs etc etc and just relied on a lateral flow.

Say a lateral flow gives a false negative, you go to work, school, shopping or what not and spread it to other people who will then need to get a test?!

Yes waiting for pcr results are annoying. But I'm just fed up of people thinking lfts are the answer when they really aren't.... it would be amazing if they were reliable wouldn't it - rapid testing etc but they really aren't!

@Nidan2Sandan

Because it's cold and flu season and for many people going for a PCR test is a ball ache and then waiting for the results when an lft is within 30 mins. Pcr is even worse if you cant drive or access a walk through.

Add to the mix all the hassle over petrol now as well.

PCR results are taking a day longer than they used to.

At least people who take LFT tests are testing many aren't.

@kakeya97

I wasn't really talking about when people have cold symptoms. I've known people to have fevers (adults don't tend to get a fever with w cold), very bad coughs etc etc and just relied on a lateral flow.

Say a lateral flow gives a false negative, you go to work, school, shopping or what not and spread it to other people who will then need to get a test?!

Yes waiting for pcr results are annoying. But I'm just fed up of people thinking lfts are the answer when they really aren't.... it would be amazing if they were reliable wouldn't it - rapid testing etc but they really aren't!

Lft's are supposed to be for asymptomatic anyway, so why are they even being used for people who are ill? I agree they should be told to book a PCR.

The problem though is the practicality. Last week I had a stinker of a cold. Booked a PCR test on Thursday on my lunch break and got the negative result on Friday. Not a problem because I was working from home. This week i'm back in the office. I'd have had to take 2 days off sick to get that test. I would have actually struggled to even make the office because I felt like shit but sickness policies are tough in the UK. Hence the reluctance.