Lateral flow test

[Rebeccabubba]

NEED HELP!!! Every lateral flow test I take comes back as positive. This is the new 15mins nose ones. 10 taken now. I've had 3 PCR test and have all came back negative. I don't have symptoms. Has anyone else experienced this. What else could the covid tests pick up on. Getting worried, or over thinking that something else could actually be wrong with me. I've rang the covid help line and they said to do another PCR TEST and then go with what that result said. I've done this and it's negative. Do I think I have covid NO. But what else could be causing the positive results

@Rebeccabubba I've just had my PCR results back. Negative after 5 faint positive LFTs. I'm feeling unwell tonight but not sure if that's the stress of not knowing really! How can 5 tests from different boxes be wrong? Why is it just me out of the 4 of us getting the result?

I'm going to test again tomorrow and if the lines darker go for another PCR or ring for advice. I just don't understand how that many tests can be wrong.

@frenchiemummy92 I totally understand where you are coming from. I did 5 amd all came back positive but did 3 PCR that came back negative. I rang the help line and they said go for a PCR amd go with what that says.I have been working outside this past couple of weeks so not come into contact with anyone. Have you read the article above? That's very interesting

This is what I'm up agains. Positive on 15 min negative on 30 min amd negative on PCR

@Rebeccabubba yes I did read that. Still not sure what to think.

That's a strong positive on the newer ones. I'm the same on the older ones as well. Doesn't show the hint of a line. How long has this been going on for for you?

@frenchiemummy92 it's been going on a couple of weeks now!! Everyone else in the house tests negative.

My Dd tested positive on the lft but negative on the pcr and my Dn tested negative on the lft but positive on the pcr. These were both done the same day and have proven to me that the lft are completely useless. I've been using them for work for a long time now and we've seen so many unreliable results from them.

I had a doctor patient the other day and she had this and so did my friend abs she said she thinks it's because the COVID virus and the cold virus are essentially the same COVID is just a stronger strain so the LFT is picking up the cold virus but as it's just a cold and not covid that's why the PCRs are negative? Thought that was quite interesting

@Darceyhemingway Yes we were told the same thing by 111. If you have symptoms the LFT can pick up other viruses. DD has had two positive lateral flow and two negative PCR. The PCR results override the LF. She still has symptons but probably just a bad cold.

In the picture are they not both lateral flow tests? The ones you get from the pharmacy etc.
Have you actually gone to a testing centre for a pcr test?

@shouldistop yes both are LFTs but one is the older version and one is newer nose only swab.

@frenchiemummy92 I realise that but op referred to it as a pcr which makes me think she hasn't gone for an actual pcr

@shouldistop she said she was negative on the 30 minute LFT and negative on a PCR.

I had the same problem last week. 7 faint positives on the new LFTs, negative PCR & Negative on older LFTs. But the PCR over rules the LFT

Oh misread, op mentioned the 3 types of tests. Ignore me

You should definitely go with the LFT, especially if you have any symptoms. My daughter’s friend got Covid from a friend who had 3 positive LFTs and a negative PCR and then returned to school. Several of her contacts then went on to test positive on both LFTs and PCRs. The chances of having more than one false positive on a LFT is microscopically small.

@Southeastmama99 good job my sister didn't listen to your advice or she would have sent my niece to school and spread covid because her lft were negative and the pcr was positive. She had no symptoms my sister just had a gut feeling the lft was wrong.

The same day my dd who's the same age as my niece tested positive on the lft but negative on the pcr test and has since tested negative on the lft so I think it's bad advice to tell people to go with the lft when the official advice is the complete opposite.

Sorry @seb342- realised my message was misleading. I meant if you have several positive LFTs assume you are positive, likewise if you have negative LFTs and a positive PCR assume you are positive. I was responding to the post which suggested a negative PCR should overrule several positive LFTs. I agree with you that the PCR is more accurate but something funny is going on where PCRs aren’t picking up Covid after several positive LFTs

I would treat as COVID

@Rebeccabubba are yours still positive?

@frenchiemummy92 I've not tested in a few days. I did go for another PCR amd that was negative again.

@frenchiemummy92 just done another one amd it's very faint this time. This has been going on for nearly 3 weeks now!!! I've not had symptoms at all. Something isn't right somewhere!!!

@Rebeccabubba yes I'm on 14 faint positive flowflex lateral flows. Negative on older lateral flows and one negative PCR. My one this morning was actually darker but still faint.

I sent off a postal PCR on Tuesday morning, posted at 7:30am and no results have come back at the moment. I don't have any off the "main symptoms", every one in my house has cold. I'm actually the one that isn't bad. Have PCR tested both DDs and DP all negative!!

@frenchiemummy92 I'm the same, none of the old ones show anything up. It's all from the new ones. 4 PCR tests negative. Everyone else in the house is negative. Let me know how you get on with the postal PCR

@Rebeccabubba I will do. Hoping results should be back today if not I'll have to send another one! Nobody else is having positives in my house on the flexflow. It's only me.

How can so many tests be wrong?
So frustrating especially when the PCR overrides the LFT. How do you know if you've got it or not 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

@frenchiemummy92 god knows. I shown the women at the PCR test centre my test and she said yes that's a positive, her jaw dropped when I said I'd had 3 negative PCR already. Rang 113 and they said to go with PCR. Just glad I've been working outside so not seen anyone. It's strange amd something isn't right somewhere. Would be interesting to know if it's just women getting the false positive lines.