Do I need LFT or PCR? I'm so confused!

[FTM8987]

I've just posted something similar to this on another forum, but thought this might be the best place for it!

I’ve come down with a horrible cold, streaming nose and sore throat, the first I’ve had in 3 years - and am feeling rotten.

I did a lateral flow test earlier and it was negative - my temperature was also normal.

Someone suggested that I should get a PCR test, but when I filled in the form on the gov.uk site, it said I wasn't eligible, because I don't have a continuous cough, loss of taste/smell or a temp.

So what should I do - is a LFT enough in my situation or do I need a PCR? And if the latter, should I just lie and pretend I have those symptoms on the gov.uk site, even though I actually don't?

Thanks!!

@Darceyhemingway

For symptomless people. As I said

They are used to detect asymptomatic cases of Covid that would otherwise go undetected. It does NOT mean they don't work on symptomatic people! If you have symptoms you are supposed to get a PCR because they are more accurate.

I really don't know why it's so hard to understand

I don’t mean to be rude, but if someone who apparently works for the NHS doesn’t understand it (assuming others on this thread are right and you are not) then it’s not surprising that many others don’t either! Especially since the government’s website seems to be hopelessly out of date.

However, since you don't have any of the three key symptoms you DO NOT have to isolate. So no need to disrupt any of your plans unless your result comes back positive.

Thanks @SpamIAm. That’s helpful to know, but in reality I will have put everything on hold until I get a negative (hopefully) result. Realistically I’m not sure my family and friends will be too keen to meet up if I say I’ve got a cold and am awaiting a test for Covid! (And who can blame them…)

They do work on people with symptoms....Did a routine Lft test yesterday as we have covid in the household, crystal clear negative and felt perfectly fine. Started shivering yesterday night, then burning hot, banging headache and light headed so done another one this morning. Instant positive

I've been and had a PCR done. The centre was extremely busy! I'm 99.9% sure it's just a bad cold and I'll eat my hat if it is Covid. I don't trust the LFT I took yesterday at all.

Good luck @ladymuck111 - keep us updated! I will let you know the outcome of my results too…hopefully a negative for both of us and it’s just the good old common cold x

LFT are for asymptotic people they won't show positive if you have symptoms

I think it is extremely worrying if the NHS are telling their employees this rubbish.

@FTM8987

Good luck *@ladymuck111* - keep us updated! I will let you know the outcome of my results too…hopefully a negative for both of us and it’s just the good old common cold x

I keep swaying from it's just a cold and I don't feel that bad to feeling grim and lethargic.

I've got a runny nose, itchy throat, ears and chest. Ringing in my ears, and I ache all over. I'm pretty sure it's not Covid. But I've read on here how others have had the same symptoms and it has been Covid.

I find it quite worrying that

a) someone who claims to work for the NHS doesn't understand how LFTs work. They are less sensitive than PCRs but cheaper and quicker. Being less sensitive they may not pick up an infection as early as a PCR, but used regularly should pick most up eventually. Except, I suppose in people whose immune system is so good that they they deal with the infection so quickly that they never develop enough virus in their noses to show up on a test. The idea that once there is enough virus to show symptoms LFTs don't work is nonsense.

b) people think it's fine to carry on as normal with 'just' a nasty cold. There is a lot of RSV about which is very dangerous to some people. Kindly mostly stay in for a day or two and keep your nasty cold to yourself. Thank you.

@ladymuck111 I’ve got a streaming nose with some sneezing, tickly throat and am generally lethargic and under the weather. I feel better today than yesterday and am sure it’s just a cold, but we shall see.

Kindly mostly stay in for a day or two and keep your nasty cold to yourself. Thank you.

Well I was planning to do that anyway, but I’ve got a busy end of week planned that will be scuppered if I have Covid. If it’s just a cold then I should be past the contagious stage by Friday, no?

[quote FTM8987]@ladymuck111 I’ve got a streaming nose with some sneezing, tickly throat and am generally lethargic and under the weather. I feel better today than yesterday and am sure it’s just a cold, but we shall see.[/quote]
I keep feeling a bit brighter then feeling rubbish again. I plan on staying in and not seeing anyone until my PCR is back.

I'd like the government to be clearer though in its symptoms and letting people know what to do. Everyone is freaked out if you so much as sniff around them nowadays. There's too much similarity now between Covid symptoms and just a cold symptoms.

I’ve now got a funny feeling in my lungs when I breathe in very deeply. Nose is also more blocked. Still holding our hope it’s a cold but this is a bit of a worrying development.

Ears are also a bit blocked!

I've felt worse since earlier this evening. Nose is blocked but runny, mouth and throat is itchy, keep going from hot to cold but no temp. Sinuses ache and my ears are ringing

@FTM8987

I’ve now got a funny feeling in my lungs when I breathe in very deeply. Nose is also more blocked. Still holding our hope it’s a cold but this is a bit of a worrying development.

Forgot to say hope it isn't Covid. I'm still pretty convinced I've just got a cold.

@ladymuck111 me too. It most likely is just a common cold. I suppose we will find out soon enough! I ordered my PCR on Sunday so am hoping it arrives tomorrow in the post.

My PCR came back negative. Feeling shocking again today though!

@ladymuck111 great news and gives me hope! I wish I’d gone to a walk-in now though, I don’t even have my test yet! Hopefully it arrives today. Hope you feel better soon x

My results were back in less than 24 hours.

From memory, from something I read online, so might be bollocks, but made sence to me.

We are most contagious before the onset of symptoms (evolutionary tactic of the virus, more likely to get spread). So LFTs pick up the virus best when you are asymptomatic. However they may still pick it up after symptoms begin, hence people say they LFT'd because of symptoms and got a positive (DS tested faintly positive on an LFT after three days of a snotty nose turned into a sore throat and an occasional wet cough - which was confirmed by PCR. This is why I did some reading about it).

PCR - I think, again, this from memory, are more sensitive and pick up the illness when you are shedding less virus.

So, LFTs are principly for regular asymptomatic testing and should not be relied on for tests with symptoms. But may give you a clue while you wait to do your PCR but you should do a PCR if you've got symptoms, regardless of LFT results.

What symptoms you should test for, beyond the original three, seems to have been left up to you.

I will try and see if I can find what I read.

I can't find what I read, but here is something from the Royal College of Pathologists explaining the tests. The summary seems to be LFT = blunt, cheap tool, might pick up the virus, might not. PCR = sharp, more expensive tool, much more likely to pick it up. Don't rely on LFTs. Both may return false negatives so worth retesting if concerned.

www.rcpath.org/profession/coronavirus-resource-hub/guide-to-covid-19-tests-for-members-of-the-public.html

Interesting @MorvaanReed, thanks. I sent off my PCR test today so hopefully will get the results tomorrow? Am a bit worried I didn’t swab for long enough though. I will update when I hear.

I would re test every 2 days with LF just incase you tested too soon.

I would re test every 2 days with LF just incase you tested too soon.

I’ll do one more LF test tomorrow morning but if the PCR then comes back negative, I think that’ll be proof enough that it’s a cold. I can’t put my life on hold indefinitely!