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.

@DontWantTheRivalry

PCR testing for people with symptoms severe enough to need medical treatment as with other viruses.

So only testing people who end up in A&E or hospital?

That's what happens with other viruses, eg, flu. We're generally not tested unless there's a good reason such as being very unwell and doctors want to confirm diagnosis.

PCR tests are pretty quick to get abs send back and receive results. They generally arrive the morning after the day you ordered, if you then test and send back same day via priority box as instructed, you currently get the result the following day. Even quicker if you order a PCR and hold in stock at home ready if you need it. So yes 2 days off possibly, but that’s a damned sight better than multiple people taking10 days plus off from being infected

PCR tests are pretty quick to get abs send back and receive results. They generally arrive the morning after the day you ordered, if you then test and send back same day via priority box as instructed, you currently get the result the following day. Even quicker if you order a PCR and hold in stock at home ready if you need it. So yes 2 days off possibly, but that’s a damned sight better than multiple people taking10 days plus off from being infected

Potentially that could be 3 days off work....which on its own might not be a big deal but in winter with lots of bugs, that could be multiple lots of 3 days especially for parents of young children.

I don't know anyone near me who's got postal results that quickly. When I last did one, I ordered the test on a Friday, got it on Saturday too late for the postal cut-off so had to wait until Monday to do the test. I got the results on the Wednesday and was back at work on Thursday, having missed almost a week of work.

When DD had one, she ended up isolating for 10 days before getting a negative result.