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Original poster

Positive PCR test on Tuesday but still negative on LFT's?

21 replies

MoonlightMedicine · 02/10/2021 13:58

I was pinged by the app last Tuesday so went for a PCR test which came back positive so I'm isolating until 9 October. I have zero symptoms and have been consistently negative on LFT's.

Regardless I will assume I have it, just wondered if anybody else has had this happen because everyone else I know who has/had it tests positive on LFT's.

OP posts:
toomuchlaundry · 02/10/2021 14:07

PCRs are more accurate

Original poster
MoonlightMedicine · 02/10/2021 14:11

@toomuchlaundry

PCRs are more accurate
Yes. I know that. Just seems very strange that I've taken numerous LFT's before and since and all are negative.
OP posts:
toomuchlaundry · 02/10/2021 14:18

Why do you keep taking tests?

DaftVader42 · 02/10/2021 14:20

Lfts don’t work if you’re symptomatic snd they’re inaccurate for a period after you’ve had covid. Why are you using lfts ?!

ReviewingTheSituation · 02/10/2021 14:21

Stop taking LFTs and wasting plastic.

bonbonours · 02/10/2021 14:22

LFTs are utterly pointless for youat this point and for the next six months! My daughter had no symptoms ever when positive (I was also positive with symptoms). Believe your PCR test!

BikeRunSki · 02/10/2021 14:22

@DaftVader42

Lfts don’t work if you’re symptomatic snd they’re inaccurate for a period after you’ve had covid. Why are you using lfts ?!
But the op is not symptomatic and has not had Covid.
dementedpixie · 02/10/2021 14:25

LFTs are basically not worth the plastic that's been used to make them. If you have no symptoms then you're lucky if they pick up 50% of cases. With symptoms it goes up to about 70%. That's still a lot of false negatives

OddBoots · 02/10/2021 14:26

I had this, from what I have read it is because I have had both doses of the vaccine so my immune system is keeping the viral load too low for the LFTs. Because the PCRs uses a system that replicates the Covid RNA it means it can pick up even tiny amounts of the virus.

Original poster
MoonlightMedicine · 02/10/2021 14:36

Thanks all. I'm not going mad with the LFT's don't worry!!

Under normal circumstances I have to test 3 times a week for work. Since my positive PCR on Tuesday I've tested twice and so t do it again. I'm just interested really as everyone else I know has tested positive on LFT and PCR.

And of course I believe the result of the PCR. And will behave accordingly.

OP posts:
Original poster
MoonlightMedicine · 02/10/2021 14:37

@OddBoots that's interesting. I have several friends who are positive and double jabbed and their LFT's showed up strong positives.

OP posts:
Original poster
MoonlightMedicine · 02/10/2021 14:39

Sorry for typo - it was meant to say I won't be doing anymore LFT's now :)

OP posts:
HelloNeighbour2021 · 02/10/2021 16:18

My 5 year old test came back negative with no symptoms and lots of negative lft. Rest of household negative. Track and trace contacted me and said they are sure the positive test from a cross contamination from the lab ( happens alot apparently) told us to take him for another test which came back 24hrs later and that was a negative. We still had to isolate though as T&T had already logged our details and was unable to un log them

HelloNeighbour2021 · 02/10/2021 16:19

, ^^came back positive I mean on first PCR. Negative on his second

MrsWhites · 03/10/2021 09:26

LFT’s do work when symptomatic, my DD and 3 of her friends have recently tested positive on LFT after developing symptoms and subsequent PCR positive in all of these cases.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 03/10/2021 09:42

Yes this happened to both me and DS. The entire time we had Covid neither of us tested positive on LFT. We both had it very mildly, I don't know if that has anything to do with it.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 03/10/2021 09:43

@DaftVader42

Lfts don’t work if you’re symptomatic snd they’re inaccurate for a period after you’ve had covid. Why are you using lfts ?!
It's completely untrue that they don't work when symptomatic.
kimlo · 03/10/2021 09:45

dd1 had covid, she was tested because of symptoms. She was quiet poorly. Never tested positive on a lf.

dd2 had symptoms, was quiet poorly. She tested positive on a lf.

fairgame84 · 03/10/2021 09:50

Yes LFTs didn't pick up when I had covid. I continued to go to work on a children's ward with what I thought was a cold. It only got picked up because they tested all staff on the rapid machine on the ward after a long term patient tested positive.
I've never done an LFT since, they are useless.

Peanutsandchilli · 03/10/2021 15:32

Oxford study says lfts are 95% accurate when used at the start of symptoms. PCRs are still more accurate but it's incorrect to say that lfts don't work if you're symptomatic.

Unsure33 · 03/10/2021 15:38

My daughter had slight symptoms and got negative LFT and PCR

Then her partner tested positive on LFT a at work , so she retested as symptoms were getting worse .

She then got positive LFT and PCR .

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