DH was positive on a PCR. Did his 10 days isolation

[Franklin12]

Now 10 days later he is negative on a LFT. I understood no one should be testing within a 90 day period. I know that LFT is less sensitive but is this an indication that he had COVID lightly. He still has an irritating cough and is sleeping much more than normal.

No, it just means the initial levels of infectiousness have likely faded. LFTs don't tend to show up positive for very long, but Covid (and complications thereof) can make people ill for much longer.

If you're worried call his GP or 119. But it'ss normal for a cough to linger and people to be very tired after a nasty virus.

My son tested negative on a LFT 10 days after a positive PCR, but positive on a PCR 11 days after the first positive. He had the PCR because he's taking part in a study, not for any 'out of interest' reasons. I'll be interested to see how long it lingers for - he's tested once a month. He had mild symptoms.

It’s completely normal to have symptoms eg tiredness or a cough for up to 6 weeks. If he still has temperature or feel ill opposed to just tired then he needs to continue to isolate per the government guidelines.

Tulips. Thank you for responding so quickly. Would a PCR give out a negative too I wonder? He is currently undertaking some hospital treatment which has been paused but should be back on it next week.

He really has slept for hours and hours but I think that is good and it’s his body repairing itself.

It's possible the PCR could be positive for a while which is why they say not to retest within 90 days. If he's done his 10 days, and is well, he can get on with normal life.

He doesn’t have a temperature. This is all very interesting in a morbid sort of way! I suspect his hospital will continue to do PCR tests on him.

I was testing negative on LFT by day 5 of my isolation.

Anyone still positive on LFT after 10 days? If so can you go back to normal if you don't have symptoms other than slight cough?

They test different things- I can’t tell you more than that though! I had to do an LFT at the end of 10 days isolation as I was sneezing, as it was negative I could go out snd about as usual.

LFTs are very accurate for identifying when you are most infectious but won't detect residual virus later. PCRs will pick up residual virus when you are no longer infectious