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Original poster

Two positive lateral flows and two negative - which are right?!

31 replies

googlage · 01/12/2021 22:03

No symptoms whatsoever.

Very confused!!

OP posts:
SonicBroom · 01/12/2021 22:06

Get a PCR

Nostrings457 · 01/12/2021 22:07

You need a PCR for confirmation.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 01/12/2021 22:08

Why have you done 4? Just get a PCR after you have a positive lft.

Original poster
googlage · 01/12/2021 22:09

PCR has already been done, waiting for the results, but in the meantime - am pondering!

Whether it comes back as +ve or -ve why/how could two tests be wrong?

OP posts:
PassingByAndThoughtIdDropIn · 01/12/2021 22:09

False positives are very very rare if you haven't been necking orange juice before doing the test. Given the amount of Covid that's floating around atm you've probably got it.

Original poster
googlage · 01/12/2021 22:11

@PassingByAndThoughtIdDropIn

False positives are very very rare if you haven't been necking orange juice before doing the test. Given the amount of Covid that's floating around atm you've probably got it.
In which case it is bloody scary that two tests from two different brands were stark negative - no wonder the numbers are so high!
OP posts:
oopsinamechangedagain2021 · 01/12/2021 22:28

What order did you do the 4 in? Was it literally one after the other?

PassingByAndThoughtIdDropIn · 01/12/2021 22:34

It's well known that LFTs have a fairly high false negative rate - anything between 10% and 50% depending on how much of the virus you have floating around inside you and how carefully you do the test.

The idea is that if everyone does them frequently then it catches enough cases to make a big difference. It's not a foolproof guarantee of safety though.

Original poster
googlage · 01/12/2021 22:59

@oopsinamechangedagain2021

What order did you do the 4 in? Was it literally one after the other?
Two positive (same brand) then one negative from another brand. Another negative a few hours later from a third brand. Confused
OP posts:
HangingOver · 01/12/2021 23:00

You don't really get false positives

my8thMNusername · 01/12/2021 23:02

I had two positive LFTs and several others which were negative. And then 3 negative PCRs. All within the space of a week! I finally accepted it wasn't covid.

Do another LFT and keep us posted on the PCR!

my8thMNusername · 01/12/2021 23:03

@HangingOver

You don't really get false positives
You do!
NovemberNovemberDarkNights · 01/12/2021 23:05

Were they all just nose or were any nose & throat?

Dauphinois · 01/12/2021 23:07

@my8thMNusername

I had two positive LFTs and several others which were negative. And then 3 negative PCRs. All within the space of a week! I finally accepted it wasn't covid.

Do another LFT and keep us posted on the PCR!

This happened to my son too and I don't think he had covid.

OP, what brand did you get the positive result with?

PrivateHall · 01/12/2021 23:21

My daughter just had 3 negative LFTs over 3 days, immediately followed by a positive PCR. It is well known they are not reliable, hence why you shouldn't actually do them if you have symptoms. I did the LFTs because I knew she was exposed to covid, then as soon as she developed symptoms, I got her a PCR. That was a few hours after the last negative LFT. Good luck OP, the rest of us are awaiting results too.

Original poster
googlage · 01/12/2021 23:24

@NovemberNovemberDarkNights

Were they all just nose or were any nose & throat?
First three nose, final one a few hours later was nose and throat.
OP posts:
Original poster
googlage · 01/12/2021 23:25

The two positive tests were both a FlowFlex test.

OP posts:
CimCardashian · 01/12/2021 23:45

My nephew just had this. 2 positive LFT’s and negative on a different type. 2 neg PCR tests!

oopsinamechangedagain2021 · 01/12/2021 23:47

Maybe you were at the end of the infection. So that's why the first 2 were positive. The PCR is more sensitive, so I'd go by the result if that, unless you develop any symptoms.

Montyman1 · 02/12/2021 00:31

My daughter, son and I had PCR tests done on Wednesday last week which came back -ve on Thursday. Symptoms only in my son. Daughter had symptoms on Monday so we did antigen tests/lfts. Son & Husband showed negative but my daughter and I had 2 x +ve each! Booked another PCR for us all which have come negative today. We did further antigen/lft tests with a different brand that have also shown as negative. 2 days of panic about missing work and school and trying to figure out isolating!! I’m going to be leaving the antigen tests in future and just booking a PCR if any of us have symptoms.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 02/12/2021 06:09

False negatives are very common on lateral flows, I had a negative LFT on the same day I had a positive PCR.

Blooeyes · 02/12/2021 06:22

My DD has had this for 6 weeks. I'm testing her every other day as there are massively high rates in her school. So far she's had 3 lots of positive LFTs followed by negative PCRs over the last 6 weeks. It doesn't make any sense.

my8thMNusername · 02/12/2021 07:19

@Waxonwaxoff0

False negatives are very common on lateral flows, I had a negative LFT on the same day I had a positive PCR.
I did a lft and pcr within 3 hours of each other on two separate days - both LFTs pos (but several others neg) and both PCRs negative.
Original poster
googlage · 02/12/2021 12:37

PCR has come back negative.

So both of the positive FlowFlex lateral flow tests were false positives…!

Shock
OP posts:
my8thMNusername · 02/12/2021 13:05

@googlage

PCR has come back negative.

So both of the positive FlowFlex lateral flow tests were false positives…!

Shock

Just realised I replied to you on other thread but very happy and not surprised to hear this!