How do PCR Tests Work?

[Jelly4444]

My daughter had covid a few weeks ago. She was asymptomatic. The rest of the family tested negative. I spoke to a nurse that I know about it and she said that if my daughter has a cold in the next 9 months there is no point in getting her tested as it will be positive.

This got me thinking! Does a positive PCR mean that

A. a person currently has covid

or

B. The person may currently have covid or they have had it in the last 9 months?

The government advice is not to test in the next 90 days after a positive test as fragments of the virus may remain.

Not 9 months.

The PCR test amplifies the virus RNA to make it more "visible". This means that it fragments of the RNA remain they could result in a positive test. The recommnedatio is not to do another tests within 90 days, wlthoguh of course many people test negative bfore then. I think this has been a dilemma for people wanting totravel who need a negative PCR before they go.