Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Had anyone continued to do LFT during a 10 day isolating for positive PCR?

65 replies

Tigerwhocameforsupper · 17/10/2021 14:27

I’m on isolation day 7 and have done a LfT every day since my positive one last Monday.

Monday was very faint, got darker on Tuesday, very dark by Thursday. Then started getting fainter until today, day 7, when I’m now testing negative.

Has anyone else followed a similar pattern?

OP posts:
AlexaShutUp · 17/10/2021 14:31

No. I did them before and after my positive pcr, and they were all negative. I couldn't be arsed after that. Am out of isolation now and no idea whether I would test negative now.

Nathalie1975 · 17/10/2021 14:43

Yes I did LFTs everyday out of curiosity. They were negative at first then followed the same pattern as yours.

CatAlice · 17/10/2021 15:13

I did a LFT when I had a headache which was positive. I had to do two isolations because I was in hospital and they told me to isolate a further 10 days on discharge. I did a LFT at day 25 and it was negative.

Tigerwhocameforsupper · 17/10/2021 15:18

@Nathalie1975

Yes I did LFTs everyday out of curiosity. They were negative at first then followed the same pattern as yours.
I only did the PCR because I got a faint positive on the LFT. I didn’t have symptoms to start with. Developed a cold on day 2 and other than fatigue I’ve been ok so far.

Can’t wait for the isolation to end, I’m going crazy stuck in the house with a 2 and 4 year old!

OP posts:
PrpleRain · 17/10/2021 15:29

All my LFTs before and after the positive pcr test were negative. I have no symptoms at all and all my household tested negative on their pcr and LFTs. I am self isolating but really not convinced that I actually have covid.

BatshitCrazyWoman · 17/10/2021 15:42

I had a strong positive on a LFT on Tuesday, I'd lost my voice, that was the only symptom. Positive PCR. Day 6 I did another LFT (feeling pretty unwell by then) and still a strong dark positive line.

Justanotherquestioner · 17/10/2021 15:44

My husband and two sons all had positive pcr tests. Husband did 4 or 5 lat flows and they were all negative before and after the pcr

zaffa · 17/10/2021 16:06

I've tested positive every day since Monday (but have also had a negative PCR on Monday). They started off faint and got
Fainter, then yesterday got quite dark and today's is also dark. I'm waiting for another PCR result that i took on Friday - I keep testing because I have had mild symptoms and I am not reassured by the negative PCR but do want to do things at the earliest opportunity, so figure if it turns negative I am good to go out (or if I make it to ten days post first LFT test, whichever is first)

I'm a bit thrown by it suddenly going darker, as my symptoms are mostly over!

Tinysnickers · 17/10/2021 17:26

Yes. My first one was a very obvious positive. Days 2-5 very dark lines, almost black. Days 7-9 gradually fading. Day 10 today and no more line.

Lougle · 17/10/2021 17:29

DD3: LFT negative yesterday, PCR positive yesterday, LFT positive today.

Me: LFT negative yesterday, PCR negative yesterday, LFT negative 7 am today, LFT positive 12pm today, PCR in progress.

Ermengarde · 17/10/2021 17:39

I had positive PCR on Tuesday, have done a lateral flow every day since (and a couple of days before) - all negative.

DD also positive PCR and her lateral flow was positive (dark line)

I have very mild cold symptoms and like a PP said I’m not convinced I even have covid. But then I’ve read a positive PCR is very unlikely to be incorrect, so maybe I just have it very slightly?!

Waxonwaxoff0 · 17/10/2021 17:48

I did a LFT on the same day I did a PCR. LFT negative, PCR positive. Did another LFT 5 days after testing positive just out of interest. Still negative. Also did another PCR 8 days after my first one as part of the ONS study I'm doing, which came back positive. I undoubtedly had Covid - 2 positive PCRs, I had a cold, temperature and complete loss of smell and taste. I don't trust LFTs at all now!

kowari · 17/10/2021 17:53

Why are people doing LFTs when they are already isolating after a positive PCR? Aren't they costing taxpayers' money and creating yet more plastic waste?

Lougle · 17/10/2021 18:05

@kowari

Why are people doing LFTs when they are already isolating after a positive PCR? Aren't they costing taxpayers' money and creating yet more plastic waste?
DD2 was feeling unwell but not the classic symptoms. LFT was strongly positive so we all got PCRs. Then the symptoms started. My PCR was negative and this morning's LFT was negative (daily LFTs if you're a close contact). I felt so awful that I didn't believe it, so repeated the LFT after 5 hours. Now positive. New PCR done.

The rest of the family have to do daily LFTs until they either get symptoms themselves or the first person is out of their isolation.

kowari · 17/10/2021 18:10

@Lougle I understand doing LFTs after a negative PCR, but this thread is talking about people doing them when they already know they are positive.

Lougle · 17/10/2021 18:11

It's curiosity, I guess. So many people have been doing them and they're always negative, that it's a bit of a 'oh so these do work...' moment.

Fashionesta · 17/10/2021 18:25

I'm on day 8 of isolation and did a LFT out of curiosity today and it was negative. The two LFT i did on the day I did my PCR were very strong positive. I'm thinking as the virus gets weaker the line gets fainter? I see it as a positive sign that on my last day of isolation I hopefully won't be contagious anymore.

FindingMeno · 17/10/2021 18:29

Never considered doing any more since pos pcr.
Have just worked on the basis that I stay isolated for 10 days and have no symptoms all will be good.
Now I'm wondering if lft should be done at the end of isolation

ApplesAreTheBaneOfMyLife · 17/10/2021 18:31

Ds went from faint line on day 1, strong line day 2 (and PCR), to no line on day 7.

ApplesAreTheBaneOfMyLife · 17/10/2021 18:34

We’re not being complacent though. Friends of mine had covid recently, one of the couple isolated from the other in the same house and didn’t leave the house at all. His lateral flows were negative by day 10. She tested positive by lateral flow on day 12. She could only have caught it from him.

Tigerwhocameforsupper · 17/10/2021 18:51

@ApplesAreTheBaneOfMyLife

We’re not being complacent though. Friends of mine had covid recently, one of the couple isolated from the other in the same house and didn’t leave the house at all. His lateral flows were negative by day 10. She tested positive by lateral flow on day 12. She could only have caught it from him.
But she could have caught it 4-6 days previous to her test, so probably day 6-8 when his lateral flows were still positive.
OP posts:
Bobholll · 17/10/2021 19:13

I didn’t test daily cos that’s kinda pointless but I did test on day 9 & I was still positive. Day 10 negative. I double checked today (day 11) & also negative. I’m still feeling really shit but confident I’ll not infectious anymore at least!

Amberfromcamber · 17/10/2021 19:18

I read this week that they pick up when you are potentially the most infectious?

DD14 has a positive PCR test and a dark line on the lateral flow. Out of interest she will do more lateral flow tests to see when they turn to negative.

Tigerwhocameforsupper · 17/10/2021 19:30

@Amberfromcamber

I read this week that they pick up when you are potentially the most infectious?

DD14 has a positive PCR test and a dark line on the lateral flow. Out of interest she will do more lateral flow tests to see when they turn to negative.

I’ve read that too and am hoping that’s the case as it means I won’t worry so much about passing it on once I’m out of isolation if my LFT is showing negative.
OP posts:
MrsDeaconClaybourne · 17/10/2021 19:30

Didn't do every day but did a few as I was curious. Didn't get a definite clear positive until about day 3 or 4, then was negative again on day 10.