New Flow Flex lateral flow tests v the old style ones?!

[CiderWithLizzie]

My DD in sixth form has tested twice today - she’s been diagnosed with tonsillitis by the doctor - but does she have covid too?! Top test is old style LFD and bottom is new style version. I’m assuming positive but have ordered PCR. Luckily DH and I are both treble jabbed (very fortunate).

Looks positive. I’m currently positive and mine was picked up very fast on the new tests.
Hope you all manage well.

Where did you get new tests from?

New tests - Flow Flex were from school.

These ones were Flowflex this week. Interestingly they are short nasal swabs only, no tonsil swabbing.
Delivered next day
www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

Exactly the same thing happened to my DS this week. 3 x positive Flowflex LFT's, negative old style ones.

PCR was negative, no symptoms. Public Health said there was no issue with Flowflex....

@CiderWithLizzie let us know what the PCR says, I'm really curious now.

Will do thank you. Can hear DD coughing upstairs 😱😴😨

These were ours. We had 3 positives in all but I binned the first one. I'm convinced he doesn't have covid and the FlowFlex are picking up another virus he had last week but no one in authority seems to agree with me.

We've done more old style LFT's since and they're all negative. He remains symptom free but did have a nasty cold type virus a week or two ago. We had PCR's then too, all negative.

Hmm 🤔 could the flowflex be picking up the tonsillitis I wonder? Weirded but will assume positive for now.

My ds10 has just had covid. Picked up very quickly on the new style lateral flow, then positive pcr the next day.

The rest of us have managed to avoid it! Mad really considering how contagious it is.

My son has tested positive on flow flex type and confirmed tonight with a PCR.

I had about 14+ positive flowflex over the space of about 9 days. Very faint but the line was there. Two negative PCRs and negative on old style LFTs. They've now gone negative. DD2 had two positive flowflex, two negative PCRs and negative on all other tests. Then negative flowflex the following day. DP & DD1 negative on all tests. So we don't actually know if I had it or if DD did either but her tests were only positive for one day and I did not feel unwell apart from one night. Was told the PCR overrides the LFTs though.

There seem to be a lot of GPs diagnosing young people with tonsilitis at the mo, without checking /insisting that they do an actual PCR. I am fairly convinced that many-if not most- of the cases we have had at school are actually Covid...

I have covid and show positive on old and flow flex lfd. The flow flex ones are much easier and nicer to take!

@frenchiemummy92

I had about 14+ positive flowflex over the space of about 9 days. Very faint but the line was there. Two negative PCRs and negative on old style LFTs. They've now gone negative. DD2 had two positive flowflex, two negative PCRs and negative on all other tests. Then negative flowflex the following day. DP & DD1 negative on all tests. So we don't actually know if I had it or if DD did either but her tests were only positive for one day and I did not feel unwell apart from one night. Was told the PCR overrides the LFTs though.

That's really interesting, the difference between old and new style LFT's does seem to be a problem

I have been wondering what the difference is between these two types of test. Ds and I tested positive on the newer ones, but negative PCR tests, negative on the older style lateral flow tests now. Waiting on some of the newer ones to arrive. If the PCR tests trump the lfts then surely there is something wrong with the lfts but if the new lfts are better somehow then lots of people are heading out to unknowingly infect people. I feel bad returning to normal but also don't want to isolate unnecessarily.

They can't pick up another virus, they are specific for this virus.

Wow the PCR is negative in spite of another positive flow flex last night!

We are in the south west so hopefully the Wolverhampton lab isn’t an issue in this.

How odd! There must be something going on. Interestingly, I ordered some more online and they never got dispatched...

@Piggywaspushed

There seem to be a lot of GPs diagnosing young people with tonsilitis at the mo, without checking /insisting that they do an actual PCR. I am fairly convinced that many-if not most- of the cases we have had at school are actually Covid...

Interesting. Same at the school where I work. I have never known so many children to be diagnosed with tonsillitis at the same time. Also an abnormally high number of ear infections being diagnosed.

My partner was positive on one of these yesterday, confirmed today with pcr.

It's taken almost two weeks for someone in my household to catch it from my ds.

I assume the lab isn't back in action. But I wonder if the swabs on the flowflex are picking up more viral material than the PCR ones. The flowflex seem fatter and made of a different material. I also read you are more likely to swab your nose really properly if you haven't just made yourself gag by doing your throat.

P.S i would assume if you have a positive LF you are indeed positive even if PCR says negative. False positive LF are actually very very unlikely.

I’m wondering if they are picking up an infection from a couple of weeks ago?