Positive LFTs but negative PCRs...

[Lanique]

I know of five people who, in the last month, have tested positive on LFTs (four of them were feeling ill, one asymptomatic) and yet their PCRs have all come back negative.

I'm a little concerned about this; is there a new sub strain that isn't for some reason being picked up on the PCR test? Or is there a new Covid-like virus in town that isn't Covid but similar enough to show up positive on LFTs?

I'm no scientist (as you can probably guess ) so have no idea how these things work but this all seems a bit coincidental to me. I get the other way around (I repeatedly tested negative myself on LFTs while positive on a PCR) but this all seems a bit... weird 🤷🏻‍♀️

I'm a little concerned as one of said people I know is a colleague who is planning to come back to work as soon as she feels well enough without doing the ten day isolation stint, and there are vulnerable people in our office.

My lateral flows (daily due to occupation) were all clear. Routine pcr positive. Feel like total and utter shite.

Yep, I posted on this thread yesterday www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4356425-Positive-LFTs-but-negative-PCR-twice , there seem to be lots of us in the same boat! The school Facebook page is full of people saying the same thing too, just over the last few days.

These are my DS’s results. First PCR negative, now waiting for the results of the second one. I just don’t understand it!

Oh thanks @karenm51 sorry, I missed your thread. Have just read it. We're SW too.

I wonder if there's a big cock-up going on and if so, whether the powers that be will be brave enough to admit it? I'm not one to get hysterical about these things, but there really could be lives at stake here.

Something's going on. I tested negative on a PCR on Thursday last week after having symptoms of a cold for a few days. Did a few negative lateral flows at the time but the runny nose turned into a bit of a cough so I thought I'd best get the PCR to check it WAS just a cold. I went back to work last Friday and Monday just gone on the strength of that result.

Then DH came home with same symptoms of cold on Monday night, only he got a positive lateral flow so we all booked in for PCRs yesterday. Mine came back positive this time, so did DH's. My lateral flows have all been negative.

So I get that my experience is the other way round to yours, OP, but I just don't understand what's going on with these tests, the symptoms and the time lines. None of it fits, anymore, with the past patterns. I'm hearing more and more of this at the moment.

There is an issue in Year 11 at my kids' school. Too many cases and the local authority have got involved. I just think they're not able to track it anymore, with the way it's all presenting, the mixing of kids with normal colds, and the "no isolating for under 18/fully vaxxed" policy. I believe they've lost control of it somewhat.

I had two positive LF last week, but a negative PCR. I’d had a sore throat and a runny nose for a couple of days before the LF, but only got classic symptoms (cough, temperature) the day after. My partner, who is spent the entire previous weekend with, started with identical symptoms to me, and tested positive on a PCR. I’m isolating for the full 10 days as a precaution anyway, as I’m dubious about the result. Seems too much of a coincidence if I’ve got a cold/A.N.other virus with identical symptoms and at exactly the same time as he’s been confirmed Covid positive!

@CurlyhairedAssassin I totally agree - there seems to be a loss of control going on.

Just posted this on another thread - it's much more likely that the positive LFT is correct and the negative PCR is wrong. But worryingly most people in this situation would assume the opposite.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CUXwS9jopM/?utmmmedium=copylink

I have been musing the exact same thoughts as yourself for the last couple of weeks !

I assumed a PCR was gold standard. Both my dc had pos lateral flows. But only one child had a positive PCR. One isolated, the other went to school.

Fast forward 2 weeks. Negative child has runny nose, did a lateral flow today and its positive (didn't repeat since last one) . Off for another PCR tommorow

@CurlyhairedAssassin

Something's going on. I tested negative on a PCR on Thursday last week after having symptoms of a cold for a few days. Did a few negative lateral flows at the time but the runny nose turned into a bit of a cough so I thought I'd best get the PCR to check it WAS just a cold. I went back to work last Friday and Monday just gone on the strength of that result.

Then DH came home with same symptoms of cold on Monday night, only he got a positive lateral flow so we all booked in for PCRs yesterday. Mine came back positive this time, so did DH's. My lateral flows have all been negative.

So I get that my experience is the other way round to yours, OP, but I just don't understand what's going on with these tests, the symptoms and the time lines. None of it fits, anymore, with the past patterns. I'm hearing more and more of this at the moment.

There is an issue in Year 11 at my kids' school. Too many cases and the local authority have got involved. I just think they're not able to track it anymore, with the way it's all presenting, the mixing of kids with normal colds, and the "no isolating for under 18/fully vaxxed" policy. I believe they've lost control of it somewhat.

This is really interesting. My eldest daughter got ill, typical covid (or cold) symptoms, then I got it but just a headache and sore throat (wondered if milder as I’m double jabbed), then younger daughter got it, slightly different symptoms, really runny nose etc. We all 3 tested negative on pcrs, but this seems strange as if it was a cold wouldn’t we all have more similar symptoms?

Dd1 is now really ill, shivers, hurts when she breathes etc, dd2 is fine and dh has now gone down with it. Awaiting his pcr results.

Assume just different bug but seems so strange?? Or could it be a variant that doesn’t show on pcrs or is that not possible?

We got bizarre results as well. DH got really ill, normally never ill and 4 weeks later he is just recovering, vomiting, heavy cold, blocked sinuses, sleeping 20 hours a day for first 3 weeks, cough with masses of mucous, lost taste - pcr comes back negative. DD then comes down with identical symptoms but the 3 testable ones don't appear until day 4 or so. Lateral flows are negative and she is out socialising pre symptoms appearing and shares a drink with 4 others. She is then sick the following night, 1 other sick that night, 2 others sick following night. She stays off school and negative lateral flow, 2 others have positive lateral flow. I say she needs PCR before returning to school and its positive. I get sick with same symptoms as DD at same time and I have had no close contact with anyone but DH (and DD briefly but we started being ill same time) so source must be DH or we have 2 identical symptomed illnesses at same time.

DD said at school there are loads of kids in with same symptoms as she had with covid testing negative. DH is now on his fourth week of being ill, I'm on my 3rd and I cannot believe DHs result was right.

DS 1 had two negative LFTs and spoke to GP as he was wheezy(asthmatic) and other symptoms were like a cold. GP prescribed antibiotics and steroids and said it would be wise to book a PCR. DS got one that day and result following day was positive. Other people at work had similar cold symptoms and all negative bar one. Thankfully DS has had two jabs so he hasn’t been as ill as he might have been without and because GP gave him antibiotics and steroids he is recovering.

@pinkpip100

Just posted this on another thread - it's much more likely that the positive LFT is correct and the negative PCR is wrong. But worryingly most people in this situation would assume the opposite.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CUXwS9jopM/?utmmmedium=copylink

Thanks for sharing this @pinkpip100

This message really needs to get out there quickly!