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Original poster

Lateral flow tests always positive

75 replies

CaputApriDefero · 28/10/2021 17:04

Mine are always positive. Faint, but clearly positive. And they have been since may. Despite never having a positive PCR. Why are they always positive?? They range from this barely there sort of line to a mid pink one. I've never had a blazing, darker than control line one. But this has been almost six months of positive lateral flows now. How the heck am
I meant to know if I'm contagious or not? Has this happened to anyone else?

Lateral flow tests always positive
OP posts:
Thread gallery
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Original poster
CaputApriDefero · 28/10/2021 17:54

@SunbathingDragon

I know a couple of people this has happened to. No idea of the reason behind it though.

The first one did go on to get covid and when she did, her lines were very strongly positive. The second, as far as I know, has never even suspected they’ve had covid. I think you need to just carry on testing as you are but do a PCR for a stronger line or any symptoms.

Definitely will do PCR for any stronger positive, but I'd never be able to leave my house if I did them for every positive. And I wouldn't be allowed into certain places if it still relied on negative lateral flow results because I cannot produce them!
OP posts:
MereDintofPandiculation · 28/10/2021 17:55

But the Flowflex test should be left for only 15 mins and it says do not read after 30mins.

Lollyds · 28/10/2021 18:00

Have you tried testing at a different time of day? If you sleep with your mouth open it could be that you become quite acidic by morning Grin

Original poster
CaputApriDefero · 28/10/2021 18:04

@MereDintofPandiculation

But the Flowflex test should be left for only 15 mins and it says do not read after 30mins.
And as I said, I read between 15 and 30 mins, depending on the test....
OP posts:
JS87 · 28/10/2021 18:06

Our flow flex always have a really faint negative line too. Been like that for months. I think it’s the background. If I had any symptoms at all I would get a pcr but we’ve all had these faint lines at varying times. When you do a colour changing test like an ELISA the background can be slightly coloured. I think it could depend on the batch.

saltontoast · 28/10/2021 18:09

OP I've had this, not every time I test but abojt 70% of the time and I've never had a positive PCR.

Advice would be to take a PCR weekly if you're in a role that requires you to test

YellowandGreenToBeSeen · 28/10/2021 18:12

I genuinely can’t see a line (other than the control line).

Playdoughcaterpillar · 28/10/2021 18:13

I think a real positive is much more convincing than that. There's going to be something different at that particular spot as there is something there to potentially react and cause a positive. I think you are over reading it but I can see how it's confusing!

DaxtheDestroyer · 28/10/2021 20:42

@Playdoughcaterpillar

I think a real positive is much more convincing than that. There's going to be something different at that particular spot as there is something there to potentially react and cause a positive. I think you are over reading it but I can see how it's confusing!
That's not necessarily the case. This is the very faint positive LFT we got with my DD when she tested positive on a PCR. Even a faint positive is a positive.
Lateral flow tests always positive
zaffa · 28/10/2021 21:26

This happens to me! I've been testing solidly positive for weeks now with negative PCRs and the same thing happened in August (minimal testing between). It's a real issue if you need a LFT to get into a venue or something.
If you find out the reason I would love to know!

Iggly · 28/10/2021 21:28

Our daughter has two similar LFTs on the same day but her PCR was negative. I’ve taken another PCR a few days later and waiting on the result now!

tonsattingforbjudes · 28/10/2021 21:37

I'm also struggling to see the positive line but all I really wanted to say @CaputApriDefero is that I love your username and 'RedensLaudeDomino'!!

Original poster
CaputApriDefero · 29/10/2021 19:28

One of these is mine. The other is my DD's

Lateral flow tests always positive
OP posts:
Theunamedcat · 29/10/2021 19:35

What if you test at other times of the day?

Boofay · 29/10/2021 19:48

@CaputApriDefero

One of these is mine. The other is my DD's

I'm the same, @CaputApriDefero. I don't always get positives but do get them often. Never once tested positive on a pcr and I've been getting them for months. Currently have another pcr awaiting results so we'll see.
This is my post on it www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4385041-does-anyone-else-keep-getting-false-positives-on-lfd-tests

Original poster
CaputApriDefero · 29/10/2021 20:10

@Theunamedcat

What if you test at other times of the day?
I just did. See picture below.
OP posts:
Whatafrickennightmare · 30/10/2021 00:00

Yes , this has been happening to me for the past 3 weeks . It's always the new style nose only tests that come positive , the older style are negative and PCR are negative.

Iggly · 30/10/2021 07:53

DD’s negative PCR received today. That’s the second this week after all three LFTs she did were faint positives.

louisejxxx · 30/10/2021 08:57

Very interesting reading all this as the exact same thing has happened with my daughter this week - she’s had positive LTFs every day this week and 2 negative PCRs! We cancelled our entire trip up north this week to see my Gran as we didn’t want to risk it. But she is symptomless and as far as I’m aware hasn’t been anyone’s “close contact” for a couple of weeks now.

I feel a bit guilty about “letting her loose” in the world again, but I can’t keep taking her for a PCR everyday so am a bit stumped about what else to do really.

Northernsoullover · 30/10/2021 09:00

Have you had covid? Possibly you could be shedding bits of dead virus? (Disclaimer I'm clearly not a virologist 😂)

JKLMNO · 30/10/2021 09:06

Yep same here only mine has a stronger line than yours. Multiple negative PCR. Very odd and and I don’t understand it. Not has covid

nex18 · 30/10/2021 09:09

The photo where you compare with your dd, your test with the feint line is pink and smudgy whereas hers is completely white. Mine normally are completely white but when I had a cold and hadn’t blown my nose well, it was pink and smudgy (no line though) and it took ages for the liquid to start traveling, I thought it was because it was snotty and thick. I was more vigilant with nose blowing after and never had it again. Could you try using a nasal spray half an hour before and see what happens?

Littlemiss74 · 30/10/2021 09:10

@Whatafrickennightmare this is exactly the same for me since using the new style nose only flowflex tests. 2 weeks ago I needed to visit an elderly relative but test showed positive so I didn’t go, followed by negative pcr. Then this past week dh & ds have confirmed positive pcr’s so I’ve been testing every day and getting a positive but 2 negative pcr’s. Yesterday I found a box of the old lateral flow tests so I did one of those and it was negative! I feel like I’m going crazy! I just want to know if I have it or not and when I can go out again without feeling guilty. Poor dd, who has been negative all along has been stuck indoors for the whole of half term when maybe I could have taken her out after all!
I’m starting to wonder if there’s a problem with these new style tests??

Willyoujustbequiet · 30/10/2021 09:14

They are negative. Looks more like just a waterline that you sometimes get on negative pregnancy tests.

When the guidance talks about a faint line I really think they mean a lot more noticeable than that. I think you're worrying about nothing tbh. This is what a positive looks like, no ambiguity.

Lateral flow tests always positive
WhatsWrongWithMyUsername · 30/10/2021 09:18

Once you have had covid you’re exempt from testing for 90 days (for those people who need to test for their job) because it can still show up for a long time after. And for some people it’s longer than 90 days. They’re not believed to be infectious after the first 10 days though.

So one possibility is you had an actual undetected infection and still showing as positive months later.

Or you have some genetic glitch that makes it come up as positive. What were the kids using to get a positive, orange juice?

Or maybe you’re like the covid equivalent of Typhoid Mary??

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