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Original poster

What would you do?

21 replies

Shimmylikejoanholloway · 02/11/2021 08:14

Did postal PCRS. Got a call from test and trace before we got our results checking we were isolating so assumed positive.
Got our results through via text and email - both negative. Then got another call via test and trace (for my husband this time) to check he was isolating after his positive result.
Explained we’ve had negative results they said it shows on their system we need to isolate.
I phoned 119 for help but all they could say was our results have been sent through and we should do another PCR if there’s any confusion.
DH is supposed to be going away (in the UK) for work this weekend.
Both my parents and brother have Covid and we saw them within the infectious window before they got symptoms.

DH thinks we should go by the results we got sent, and thinks it’s a T&T mistake, I think we should get another PCR to be on the safe side.

Did a couple of rapid lateral flows and they’re negative, but we did two last week as well and they were negative as well.

OP posts:
Original poster
Shimmylikejoanholloway · 02/11/2021 08:16

Should have mentioned we both have been I’ll for a week, I’ve had intermittent fever and am now developing a cough and DH had a nasty cough and sore throat which keeps getting a bit better then getting worse again. He currently seems like he’s on the mend which is why he’s still planning to go away now he has a negative test result.

OP posts:
missyoumum · 02/11/2021 08:23

I would do them again. It's probably a mistake but I wouldn't want to be infecting people if it wasn't.

morningglory84 · 02/11/2021 08:31

@missyoumum

I would do them again. It's probably a mistake but I wouldn't want to be infecting people if it wasn't.
I agree with @missyoumum
DriftingPlateTectonic · 02/11/2021 08:34

You've got symptoms so I'd test again

SilverGlitterBaubles · 02/11/2021 08:40

£37 billion spend on test and trace you would think they could get it right. Seems to be more and more of this and negative PCRs with symptoms and positive LFTs. These labs are unreliable.

Cook4Meals · 02/11/2021 09:41

you have symptoms therefore you can only do PCR.
LFT is for picking up asymptomatic cases. Repeat PCR.

Original poster
Shimmylikejoanholloway · 02/11/2021 13:01

Yes that’s what I think, thanks. So frustrating.

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Original poster
Shimmylikejoanholloway · 02/11/2021 13:01

The stupid thing is it took so long to get results and now this and we are both feeling lots better so even if we have had Covid I wouldn’t be surprised if our tests come out negative again but best to be safe

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Bobholll · 02/11/2021 13:14

Dont do postal ones again, they take forever.
Go to a drive in or walk in centre this evening or tomorrow & you’ll get your results in 24 hours or less. My result last month came through in 13 hours!

seb342 · 02/11/2021 13:16

@Cook4Meals

you have symptoms therefore you can only do PCR. LFT is for picking up asymptomatic cases. Repeat PCR.
This. People seem desperate for the pcr tests to be wrong and the lft to be right even though the guidance from the start has said that if you have symptoms a lft won't give an accurate result. All you see on here is "take another lft" or "I'd listen to the lft because the pcr could be wrong" I've been taking the tests since they started and lft are not reliable at all in my experience that I've witnessed firsthand.
seb342 · 02/11/2021 13:18

@Shimmylikejoanholloway

The stupid thing is it took so long to get results and now this and we are both feeling lots better so even if we have had Covid I wouldn’t be surprised if our tests come out negative again but best to be safe
There's a reason you can't test for 90 days after having covid and that's because you'll get a positive test so given the timescale the pcr will still be accurate. A colleague tested over 50 days after having Covid and it came back positive so I believe the advice is spot on.
BananaBlue · 02/11/2021 13:25

Ffs. I’m having this at the moment.

Had symptoms last week, neg PCR sat. Isolated regardless but could have gone pub,club, hosp, shopping at this time.

Tested again yest (even though we are feeling a bit better) and positive PCR.

The testing system seems chaotic to me.

PrincessNutNuts · 02/11/2021 13:27

@Bobholll

Dont do postal ones again, they take forever. Go to a drive in or walk in centre this evening or tomorrow & you’ll get your results in 24 hours or less. My result last month came through in 13 hours!
I would normally agree, but local walk in test centres close at 6pm now don't they?
ISaidDontLickTheBin · 02/11/2021 13:27

@Bobholll

Dont do postal ones again, they take forever. Go to a drive in or walk in centre this evening or tomorrow & you’ll get your results in 24 hours or less. My result last month came through in 13 hours!
Agreed - if there is any way you can get to a testing centre, do that instead of the postal ones.
Bobholll · 02/11/2021 13:30

LFTs can be used if symptomatic. They don’t just stop working because you have symptoms. I had covid recently & tested positive until day 9 on a LFT at which point it went negative again.

You should also get a PCR test but there is no harm in checking on cold like symptoms with a LFT.

Also, this has nothing to do with the OPs case who has tested negative on a PCR & an LFT!

And also most of what’s been banged on about on here recently is positive LFT & negative PCRs in the south. Hopefully people are believing the LFT’s!

Original poster
Shimmylikejoanholloway · 02/11/2021 13:31

@seb342 both our Lateral flows and our PCRS came back negative I have a text and an email saying so it’s only T&T who seem to think otherwise so I don’t want the PCRs to be wrong at all

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Bobholll · 02/11/2021 13:36

@PrincessNutNuts - centres here are open 9am-6pm. I have been on my lunch break & after work in the past - most people finish at 5/5.30pm or if they don’t, start work later in the morning so can go then. My employer also deems it completely reasonable to take an hour our the day or to finish a bit earlier as a one off to go get tested if you need. Similarly to going for an occasional doctors appointment.

I think the centres are open a perfectly adequate amount of time. There are hundreds of available slots daily. & I live in a very high case area.

redferrari · 02/11/2021 15:12

I had symptoms, negative LFT and negative PCR but was told to isolate. I have no idea why. It was ok for me I was wfh and it was start of half term so was exactly 10 days when I could stay in.

bagofconkers · 02/11/2021 15:57

If you've both been ill for a week already, then surely you must be very near the end of your isolation period regardless?

altmember · 02/11/2021 16:00

Are you vaccinated? I think unvaccinated people still have to self isolate after close contact with a positive case?

Another PCR is the most reliable thing you can do now. There are lots of colds going around, and covid symptoms now are very similar to common colds. Lateral flows more likely to give false negative than PCR, but both have a very low false positive rate.

Original poster
Shimmylikejoanholloway · 02/11/2021 17:43

Both vaccinated. That's true @bagofconkers

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