Positive LFT after 10 days of self-isolation

[CinnabarRed]

DS1 tested positive (PCR) on Thursday 7th October and has been in self-isolation ever since. He’s been asymptomatic throughout.

Today is Day 10 which means that his self-isolation ends at midnight, according to the government guidance. However, he’s just done a LFT (as part of the Sunday/Wednesday routine for secondary school), and it’s a very faint positive.

What do I do - send him to school tomorrow anyway? I can’t find anything online. The only time self-isolation seems to extend beyond 10 days is if the patient still has a fever, which DS doesn’t have. There’s also guidance saying not to do PCR tests for 90 days, but nothing about LFTs. School thinks he’s coming back tomorrow and I don’t want to get a fine for unauthorised absences.

Would really appreciate your views.

Where I work you are exempt from LFD testing for 90 days after having a positive PCR. As you may still get a positive result.

He shouldn't have taken an LFT as he can test positive for up to 90 days after a positive PCR. He should be exempt from testing until his 90 days have passed.

Once his 10 days isolation has been done he can go back to normal as long as he no longer has a temperature and feels well enough to go.

When I read into this it’s pretty much impossible to still be contagious 10 days after a positive test but you can test positive for a long time. So it’s fine to go back to school.

Thank you - that’s very reassuring.

Residual virus means he may test positive for up to 3 months after a covid infection. This does not mean he is still infectious. He shouldn’t do any LFTs until after this time is up as he may well get a false positive result.

I find this worrying. Wouldn't it be possible for someone to get covid twice in 3 months ? I realise it would be very rare but is it unheard of ?

So how would anyone know whether it's a fresh infection ?

Dd had covid in July and the rest of us have it now. Nhs said for her to test again which would be within 90 days just, to see if there’s a different strain but she came back negative.
She had positive lateral flows for a short while after 10 days. When they went back to school in September she was told not to attend for testing.

@CinnabarRed

I'd do another test in the morning as today is day 10.

The guidance says...

If, however, you do have an LFD antigen test within 90 days of a previous positive COVID-19 PCR test, for example as part of a workplace or community testing programme, and the result of this test is positive, you and your household should self-isolate and follow the steps in this guidance www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

Do not do any more testing! He is still within his first isolation period and shouldn't test again for 90 days unless he gets new symptoms.

In this case it’s clearly not a new infection - he hasn’t been anywhere or met anyone.

From your link above

Anyone who has previously received a positive COVID-19PCRtest result should not be re-tested within 90 days of that test, unless they develop any new symptoms of COVID-19.

No more testing and he is free from midnight. It's over!

They could really do with making the guidance clearer….

@butterpuffed

I find this worrying. Wouldn't it be possible for someone to get covid twice in 3 months ? I realise it would be very rare but is it unheard of ?

So how would anyone know whether it's a fresh infection ?

If you have new symptoms you have to PCR again. As LFT are just picking up symptomless cases is unlikely someone would be reinfected within 90 days and be symptomless due to natural antibodies. Obviously not impossible but a small risk. People can't isolate again and again for 3 months hence the 90 day exemption.

This caused a lot of confusion in my DDs school OP as half the school caught it then many were still testing positive on LFT when they returned to school. They checked it out and were advised those who had tested positive did not need to do LFT for the 90 days after their positive PCR.

@Whataday21

No more testing and he is free from midnight. It's over!

If only. DS2 tested positive a few days after DS1.

As others have said he shouldn't test for 90 days.
I tested positive for way past the 90 days as well.
If the school say anything just explain the guidelines of because he's been positive no tests for 90 days if he doesn't develop symptoms. Be aware too that if he had a cough that covid cough can linger a while. The only symptom which doesn't release you from isolation is a fever as this is sign of still infectious virus shedding

I was also recently told that if I start sneezing or have stomach upset not to stop isolating, though it’s ok to stop with a cough and loss of taste/smell.

Thank you. Both DS1 and DS2 are entirely asymptomatic.

You're nearly there! We only have one positive currently!

@dementedpixie

From your link above

Anyone who has previously received a positive COVID-19PCRtest result should not be re-tested within 90 days of that test, unless they develop any new symptoms of COVID-19.

This is what the guidance says under the lateral flow testing for workplace/schools If, however, you do have an LFD antigen test within 90 days of a previous positive COVID-19 PCR test, for example as part of a workplace or community testing programme, and the result of this test is positive, you and your household should self-isolate and follow the steps in this guidance again

I'm not sure why people are still saying to ignore a positive LFT.

This is all interesting, I didn't know this. Sorry to hijack but can anyone answer this - I'm supposed to be going abroad at half term with two dc, we all had Covid last month. They are aged 13 and 15 and unvaccinated. I'm double vaccinated. They have to take PCR tests before we fly, will they not just come back positive??!!

They might. Not sure what happens with this regarding travel.

@SpookyPumpkinPants

Having given it a great deal of thought overnight, I’m going to send him to school.

For me, it’s about the risk that he could still be infectious and therefore spread COVID, which seems to be negligible. Evidence from around the world says that the asymptomatic stop being infectious by day 10.

If he had cause to do another test in a few weeks’ time and it comes back positive then it could be a new infection and I’d start the self-isolation regime again.

@SpookyPumpkinPants i imagine it's saying that if you are daft enough to take another test within the 90 day period and it comes back positive then as you can't prove it was due to the original infection you need to isolate. To get round this they advise you not to test for 90 days.

As the OPs child hasn't been anywhere they couldn't have picked up a new infection so they can finish their original isolation and go back to school

@SpookyPumpkinPants you can test positive for a long time after it doesn't mean your infectious it's just residual virus traces.
I tested positive for 4 months! It wasn't a new infection what would you propose people like me do..... Isolate for 4 months.... 🙄

@floppybit yes there is a risk they will still test positive, have they done a LFT test? What does that pop up with? Its worth checking out the countries rules to what they accept. Some accept recovery from covid certification rather than PCRs (but be careful with this one going by some travel forums some people to Spain for instance have been refused at check in) and some accept negative lft rather than PCRs.

If it was me I would probably pay for a PCR sooner to double check before it got to a few days before. This is what I did before I booked a holiday as I had come up positive for so long.