When did your PCR turn negative after a mild COVID infection ?

[bstrong0805]

Hi All - My son brought us the COVID from school and we all tested positive on PCR as well as home LFTs. We finished our isolation last Friday, 19th November. Now, we travel on 10th December for holiday - to a country that needs negative PCR and doesn't accept recovery certificate. I am hoping since our symptoms were mild and that we have been testing negative on LFTs for last 3-4 days already, that our PCR is negative BUT i have heard that it can be positive for up to 90 days.
Has anyone here tested and actually got a negative PCR within a few weeks of the infection ? I do know all the rules and have looked up research etc but looking for some positive reassurance from anyone who has got a negative PCR within a month of testing positive. I havent seen family in 2 years and really want to go home to see them :)

Anyone ?

You can still test positive on a PCR for up to 90 days following infection due to the high sensitivity of the test being able to detect even minute amounts of latent virus. That's not to say you will, but you could hence why you aren't advised to test again for three months following a positive test.

You aren’t to test for 90 days as you will still test positive op in fact some it’s longer but many it’s less . Usually it’s fine if your say you’ve had covid recently so not sure what your supposed to do if they won’t except a recovery certificate and you test positive . Check your travel insurance as you may not be able to travel.

I was testing negative a month later (did a PCR as I'm part of the ONS Covid study).

I'd just do a test in a week or so and see what it says. Might put your mind at rest

A colleague had covid in mid July just before the school holidays. Not the mildest of cases either.
She went on holiday in August and tested negative on the travel pcrs as they needed to.

I tested negative 3 weeks after my original positive

Not PCR, but DH tested positive (albeit faintly) on LFT seven weeks after isolation ended. I was negative though. Both of us were asymptomatic.

My child tested positive on PCR and then negative on a PCR 3.5 weeks later.

My daughter was negative 14 days after a positive PCR. You can only try - hope it works out for you!

You definitely might test negative, there's no way of knowing. And there is a possibility that some of you might test negative and others positive – what would be your plan in that case?

The bottom line is to make sure your insurance would cover you if you test positive on the fit-to-fly PCR so worst case scenario at least you wouldn't lose your money and could go next year instead.

I haven't the answer as was coming on here to ask this question! All 5 of us had covid last month but it's only my 2 young teens who will need to test as DH and I are double jabbed and youngest DC is under 12. They will be 60+ days since testing positive so hoping that's enough but we won't know for sure until we are literally packed and ready to go. Nightmare!! Crazy they won't accept recovery certificates isn't it????

Thank you everyone. I think it is just something we have to risk and keep our fingers crossed. It has been 3 weeks now and we have another week before we fly. Happy to hear some of you tested negative within 3-4 weeks.
@thing47 - we are going home, so it is just the cost of flights for now. So hoping we have that covered just in case!
@Mamadothehump - crazy isn't it? I think we are in fact safest to travel as we are double jabbed and have recovered from it, but sadly some countries won't accept a recovery certificate !
@ItWorriesMeThisKindofThing / @ohtsmeagain - you guys give me hope, fingers crossed !

what was the outcome OP? I have a positive child and we need a negative PCR pre-travel test in a fortnight. Wondering if we will get it

Not me but friend was negative on a fit to fly PCR two days after isolation finished and another friend went away 2 weeks after and also negative. Children seem to be negative quicker on lft so wonder if since will apply to PCR.