False positive pcr. Do I still isolate

[weneednopants]

So after getting pinged twice in a week I did a home pcr test and sent it off. 2 days later I get the result that I'm positive. Strange as I feel absolutely fine and have done a lft daily since the first ping and all have been negative. Immediately did another lft...negative. So as my son will need to do a pcr and we are in the area most affected by the dodgy lab I decided to book myself a second just to double check. Went to a drive through facility this time as they use a different lab. 2 days of isolating and I've just had our results through we are both negative. Where do I stand legally regarding self isolation? I can't afford a fine if I go out but I need to get back to work etc......

The problem is, how do you know which result is false? The only way to avoid the annoyance of false positives is to not test and just be sensible to start with. If you start this nonsense by taking the test in the first place then you have to take responsibility for the outcomes. No point moaning about it now but hopefully you’ve learnt your lesson.

I don't think the negative overrides the positive, I'm sorry. Call 119 and try and get some definitive advice.

@SweetBabyCheeses99 That's a horrible thing to say. The op is clearly far more responsible than you by taking tests in the first place!

You can't really pick and choose unfortunately. I'd take the positive as genuine.

Unfortunately you still need to isolate. Had this with colleague this week.
Positive PCR through work received result Saturday, did a LFT at home that morning, negative, went for another PCR at testing centre, negative but still had to isolate for a further 8 days.

She's done a LFT each day which has been negative.

Your negative result from the second PCR would have said that you still need to isolate as you had tested positive a couple of days before.

A false negative is far more likely than a false positive I understand.

I had a positive pcr on Monday, no symptoms and negative lateral flows ever since - except today when I tested positive on lateral flow and started to feel grim. Weird.

You’ve had a positive PCR, you can’t just override it with another test.

You need to do the full isolation from the first test surely? It's not worth it as you don't know which is false.

Pretty sure false negatives are FAR more likely than false positives. DH did LFT Wednesday, negative, Thursday's PCR, positive. Today he did an LFT out of curiosity and it went positive in seconds. He's got it. Asymptomatic though.

Agree false negatives are common and false positives extremely rare.

Is it not possible they are both right? You had it with the first pcr but not with the second? You'd still need to isolate for ten days from the first though I think

Cannot understand why you would take another PCR test when you had already gotten a positive result and then have to isolate. Getting a negative PCR after does not stop the isolating. It is possible that you had covid before the first test, but there’s no way of knowing. Hope you stay symptom free.

You're more likely to get a false negative than a false positive, sorry. Most people are asymptomatic so spread it without realising. Do what's legally required of you to protect others and just isolate. Yes it's inconvenient, but you will live.

Also the lab issues were false negatives...

You can't override a positive PCR, no matter how many other tests you do.

Vaccinated people generally clear the virus from their systems much more quickly. Both PCR’s could be right, i.e. there was virus detectable the first time but not the second (you feeling fine would support this idea).

Regardless, though - you had a positive PCR result, you are legally required to isolate.