Proof of previous PCR result

[Loncan]

Sorry, this is probably a stupid question but I can’t find an answer online, and I’m a worrier.

I was a close contact with a colleague/friend yesterday who has tested positive today and also admitted that she was actually symptomatic yesterday but chose to keep quiet and come into the office anyway. I’m of course now waiting for the inevitable to happen.

I’m meant to be flying home in a few weeks (expat who hasn’t seen my family in almost 2 years now because of covid) and I’m trying to be prepared for the the worst case scenario. In the event that I do end up positive, I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to do a travel PCR, fortunately the country I’m travelling to will accept proof of a positive PCR from 14-180 days before the travel date.

My question is, what do you actually receive in terms of results (I’ve never had a PCR)? Will it be sufficient to use as proof, or do you just receive a text? Will there be something in the covid pass I can use? (I can see my LFT results there, but they’re not detailed so not sure if PCR would have more info).

I received a negative result yesterday which came by text and email. The email shows my full name and dob and date I think

Yeah name, dob and test date. The rest is a generic schpiel.

Please tell me, which app can you view your lateral flow tests on? I can't in the passport app (covid cert)

On the nhs app, you can view results under the travel covid pass. Some of mine look like this…

Thanks all. Did it specify that it was a PCR result at least?

Here's the text. Obviously changed name and dob to xyx.

Begin text - - -

Name x y z

Birth date: XYZ

Test date: 23 November 2021

Your coronavirus PCR test (or other lab test) result is negative. It’s likely you did not have the virus when the test was done.

To stay safe:

Get vaccinated

Handwash regularly

Open windows if meeting indoors

Download the StopCovidNI App

Wear a face covering in crowded indoor settings

Stay home if unwell

Get tested and self-isolate if you need to

You may need to self-isolate, despite this negative result. Find out more at www.nidirect.gov.uk/ – click on COVID-19 information and read ‘Guidance and support – Health advice – Self-isolating’.

If you’re going into hospital for a procedure, continue to self-isolate until the date you go in.

If you have symptoms that do not go away, contact your GP. In an emergency dial 999.

As someone who has had a negative test, your help will be valuable in finding coronavirus treatments. Sign up to take part in coronavirus studies on the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) website:

bepartofresearch.nihr.ac.uk/campaigns/COVID-19-research-studies/

End text

@purpledaisies i have my vaccine passport on the app i named above "covid something". I'm in Northern Ireland. Ill. Look at the nhs app! I feel like that's obviously a separate app.

The app I have has 2 vaccine passports that's it

Ahhh the app is "covid app ni".

Op that's really shitty of your friend by the way. I've had to go through whether to tell people I was getting tested or not, never mind actually meeting people knowing i was waiting a test result. I'd be absolutely furious if I were you. That's so selfish. I'm not sure I'd be able to forgive that. Covid really brings out the complete twat in some people. I just think it's courtesy these days to give people the choice. How hard would it be to say - I have covid symptoms and an waiting a result - still OK to meet?

Im a worrier as well.

How long do you have before your travel? Have you checked the requirements for both the country you're leaving, and the one you're going to?

Btw if anyone is reading, the NHS app doesn't accept NI postcodes. Thank you anyway.

@Myshitisreal Thanks so much for your help!

I’m meant to leave on the 15th, so if I test positive by Tuesday, I’ll be out of the 14 day window and should be okay to travel, provided they’ll accept the NHS test…the minimal info I’ve found is mixed, because the results nhs provide are so sparse. Tempted to pay for a test just for the documentation. If I test positive any later than that, I’m screwed as I’ll have to move my flight (which has gone up 8 fold and will cost me close to 2k, as I would need to pay the difference in fares). Which means I’ll probably have to cancel.

I’m absolutely livid with my friend. I’ve only been into the office a handful of times to avoid this situation, but I had an in person meeting that I absolutely couldn’t do virtually. She admitted that she’d been to a party on Sunday where the host had covid, and almost all the attendees have since tested positive. She was actually making fun of me yesterday because I do 2 LFTs each week, while she was knowingly sitting there with symptoms!

If my trip gets cancelled, I don’t think I can ever forgive her. Maybe that’s petty, but I don’t really care at this point.

I'm digesting... Nhs is 10 days. Are you outside nhs legislation!??

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/how-long-to-self-isolate/

Quote.

When to stop self-isolating
You can stop self-isolating after the 10 days if either:

you do not have any symptoms
you just have a cough or changes to your sense of smell or taste – these can last for weeks after the infection has gone

And are you classed as a close contact to her under the circumstances in which you met?

Sorry i genuinely couldn't forgive that. Not a chance, especially knowing how you feel about it. 😡

Only you know what you're happy with though.

How much is a private test?

Also, depending on how you test, you will need to factor in time for the results to come back.

I’m travelling to Canada - you need a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure or proof of a positive test dated between 14-180 days before departure (date of test, not date the results were received).

So if I tested positive on Tuesday, I would be out of isolation here by the 9th December, but I wouldn’t be eligible to travel into Canada until the 14th. If I tested positive next Friday, I wouldn’t be eligible to travel into Canada until the 17th, etc.

We had several face to face conversations throughout the day and sat next to each other on the train home for 20 minutes (masked, but still…).

I realize I sound insane worrying about this by the way…I’ve had a spectacularly rough year, I’m living in an incredibly hostile environment right now, and this was going to be my only true break, so I’m feeling pretty stressed.

So if you tested positive on the 9th your test would likely have been the 8th or earlier as the result takes time. The 10 days isolation is from the start of symptoms.

Im a little confused by being cleared on the 9th (then something about the 14th?)

If you need a negative test within 72hrs of travel on 15th, then you hope to have a negative test taken 12th/13/14.

The good news is I've read folks are more contagious before symptoms start.

Nothing here is certain, it's not guaranteed you will get it.

I completely understand your anxiety. You're simply trying to prepare for a possible triple layer shit sandwich. If you are a worrier, it can be a good way of feeling in control of the situation (which is clearly outside your control).

I would advise you to get a book, dedicate a few pages to all this stuff and make clear concise notes with dates. It means if you get a bit flustered you have something to read and reflect. I'd probably also save the reputable links where you did the information is it makes you feel better. If it doesn't, don't bother of course. It's just like a clear action plan instead of muddled panicky thoughts.

You could also investigate private tests etc. Look at all the options.

You seen her Wednesday.. What is the current common incubation period?

Do you have lateral flows you can do daily as well for reassurance ? If you don't have enough, get online and get some more ordered.

And maybe dedicate a page to your shithead friend. Honestly. I'd have to sack her off. Ill drop that now!

In the NHS App (England) You get a Covid recovery certificate (once your isolation has ended) which is in the same place as your vaccination certificate for travel. You would need to check that it’s ok for Canada as some countries (e.g. US) require a signed letter from a medical practitioner. In that case if your GP refuses to issue a letter (many do), there are private doctors which will issue a letter - at a cost!

@BunsyGirl Thank you, that’s good news. I have a private doctor who do “recovery certificates” bookmarked as well just in case (£150!)

@Myshitisreal Sorry, I’ve probably been confusing. Everything I’ve read says incubation period is usually around 3-7 days (5-6 days for symptoms to show up). I’ve ordered a PCR test (as there are no walk in testing centres near me) which I’ll do Monday I think (day 5), unless I get symptoms before then. Doing daily lateral flows as well.

Of course, if by some miracle I managed not to catch it, I’ll just do the Fit to fly PCR within 3 days of departure, which was the plan before yesterday’s news.

@Loncan one other thing to note - I’m a bit confused about the dates, so it might not! When I tested positive, I had to fill a form in for Test and Trace where I stated when my symptoms started. Even though I only had very minor symptoms prior to my test for a few days (sore eyes), my self isolation started from those first symptoms. So actually I only had to self isolate for 6 days once I had my positive test.

After writing all that I’ve realised it’s completely irrelevant in your situation though as it’s the date of the PCR that matters!

@TheIssues

Sorry, yes it’s the date of the positive PCR that affects the ability to travel (it must be dated +14 days from your travel date). Theoretically I would be out of isolation in uk, but still ineligible to travel for a few more days.

Thanks for the replies all. I realize I may be stressing for nothing, but I feel a little more prepared should the worst occur.

Yeah you got some good info.

🥰 I genuinely want things to work out ok for you. I think you've done what you can 🤞

For travel you need an actual covid pass which comes via a QR code - not just a PCR confirmation! Your proof of prior infection will be on the app and so will generate a covid pass code for travel. But like i say it needs to be an actual travel pass. Be aware the travel pass is active only 14 days after a positive pcr so even though isolation is 10 days, you only get a travel pass after 14 days

@Watapalava

The country I’m travelling to needs to see the actual details of the positive test (date of test, type of test, etc.) not just a QR code. Do those details appear in the covid pass as well (similar to the vaccination records, which have the codes with the details listed below them)?

Yes

I don’t know about Canada but for uk the only acceptable proof of prior infection is via the nhs covid pass. The covid pass is the only method the uk government have approved and when you have had previous infection it shows on there. I wouldn’t expect many countries to accept anything other than the pass given that’s the uk standard?

Most countries have general requirements for what they require, not split by country. As in, they want confirmation either generally or in a specific way, not based on what is the most common from the country you come from. They're not generally greatly interested in what's the main form in another country; why should they be?

For example, for Poland, you show proof of vaccination in any way being in Polish or in English, if you are a recovering + case (not further back in the past than 6 month from your entry date), they require a document confirming your illness in Polish or English, including the EU digital certification - so the UK app pass would probably be okay, but would not be the only method.

@Watapalava @Precipice

Thanks both. Based on the guidelines on the Canadian government site, I think what’s on the covid pass should be alright then.

This is great. The passes are totally different here. Who would have thought there was so much variation.

Op hope your feeling better about the whole thing

Hi how are things op

@Myshitisreal Thanks for asking! My PCR results came back negative this morning, so hopefully all is good from here on out. I’ll keep doing daily lateral flows just to be safe though.