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Original poster

FFS I’ve got suspected omicron

327 replies

PatientZerooo · 03/12/2021 15:29

Although nobody has actually told me personally - I only know because my contacts (including DH and DC) have been contacted by T&T and told.

Took test on Tuesday, positive result on Wednesday, T&T follow up today.

I have ruined a lot of people’s plans Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
PatientZerooo · 03/12/2021 17:33

@Orchid876

Ohh, can anyone who has had these new kinds of tests that pick up Omicron tell me if they looked different to the usual PCR tests? A new mobile testing site has sprung up in our town, and the PCR test my DCs had today were definitely different to other PCRs we'd had before. The test stick was much fatter, the tube was different, with more solution in it. I wonder if they're testing for it in certain areas.
My PCR swab (at a mobile drive through site) was also unusually fat, like a cotton bud, but that may just be down to which supplier/Tory crony is supplying them at the moment
OP posts:
Original poster
PatientZerooo · 03/12/2021 17:35

@CavernousScream

Your case won’t have been sequenced, your test will have been picked up as having ‘S drop out’, which is a shorthand way they can use a standard PCR test to make a good guess that it’s Omicron. There are more cases in the north west than London, so it may not have been on the train. It’s good that it’s been picked up and track and trace have contacted your contacts.
This is what I assumed - some sort of screening done on a proportion of swabs rather than a full sequencing. Thus the ‘suspected’ bit.
OP posts:
Justgorgeous · 03/12/2021 17:35

Why are you justifying going to London ? Why would anyone come at you ? You are allowed to travel to London.

BigRedDuck · 03/12/2021 17:37

I'm in the south east (not near London at all).
Every PCR test I've been for (DCs with many coughs and cold so there have been alooooot of tests, has been different. Think it's just down to the supplier!

Palavah · 03/12/2021 17:38

@PatientZerooo

It is a bit weird that I wasn’t told at the time, but the T&T phone calls have not been coming in a logical order so I might yet be told. Or maybe they’ve identified a particular Avanti train as an omicron superspreader location Hmm
When i had to speak to T&T recently they weren't interested in the details of my (long) train journeys because they didn't have a way of recording the details in the system. I thought it remarkable that they'd miss out on one of the highest - risk (to others) thing I'd done in the relevant period.
Watapalava · 03/12/2021 17:39

Actually OP I have to admit if my friend who knew i had loads of xmas plan,s named me i'd be rightly pissed off. Why couldn't you just ring them and let them decide?

BigRedDuck · 03/12/2021 17:45

@CavernousScream

Your case won’t have been sequenced, your test will have been picked up as having ‘S drop out’, which is a shorthand way they can use a standard PCR test to make a good guess that it’s Omicron. There are more cases in the north west than London, so it may not have been on the train. It’s good that it’s been picked up and track and trace have contacted your contacts.
Oh, than I misunderstood! Thankyou @cavernousScream
Original poster
PatientZerooo · 03/12/2021 17:46

@Watapalava

Actually OP I have to admit if my friend who knew i had loads of xmas plan,s named me i'd be rightly pissed off. Why couldn't you just ring them and let them decide?
Hmm not sure that’s how T&T works, but I didn’t know it was omicron at the time did I? Just filled in the form and assumed that my double vaxxed acquaintances could crack on
OP posts:
julieca · 03/12/2021 17:47

A quick test can tell the lab if it looks like omicron. But only a full analysis that takes much longer will confirm it. So suspected means - this short test shows it is likely to be omicron as it looks different to Delta, but we cant say 100% until quite a few days later.

Watapalava · 03/12/2021 17:48

OP - why did you name them at all? If you genuinely thought it was delta, why not just pick up the phone and text them? Since they wouldnt have to isolate anyway? Identifying them to T&T was always going to be a risk - this close to xmas i'd be rightly pissed off and i know i wont be alone in thinking that - esp if they are double vax!

Watapalava · 03/12/2021 17:49

I had covid last week and didn't name a single person to T&T - you don't have to. Everyone i told individually.

manolantern · 03/12/2021 17:50

@BigRedDuck

You've done nothing wrong OP, please don't feel guilty.

I had a phone call yesterday saying that I have the Omicron variant. No travel and no contacts that have travelled either. Its far more widespread than we think. I haven't left the house for 6 weeks due to other reasons and caught covid last Wednesday.
They also told me that only a certain percentage of positive PCRs are sent off for sequencing, mine was just randomly picked so they called me. They are now sending special tests to the house for all of us to take.

Where did you go last Wednesday, was it somewhere you'd have thought in advance might be a bit risky?
Original poster
PatientZerooo · 03/12/2021 17:50

I think I need to add ‘seriously fucking snappy’ to my symptom list. Literally having to bite my tongue every time I reply. Jesus.

OP posts:
herecomesthsun · 03/12/2021 17:52

Grin hope you feel better soon

Christmas3143 · 03/12/2021 17:52

It is not your fault op. Hope you feel better soon and your dh and dc don't catch it 💕

CavernousScream · 03/12/2021 17:52

@Watapalava If she’d done what you’re suggesting she’d have been responsible for allowing her friends and family to spread a new variant with unknown severity to their friends, family and colleagues. Then on to a lot more people’s friends and families because it spreads really fucking quickly. How on Earth can you think that would have been a good idea?!

friendlycat · 03/12/2021 17:54

@Watapalava

Actually OP I have to admit if my friend who knew i had loads of xmas plan,s named me i'd be rightly pissed off. Why couldn't you just ring them and let them decide?
Have I just read this correctly? I despair sometimes.
Watapalava · 03/12/2021 17:54

I'll be another new variant next week! We are on what about our 4th? 5th?

Its expected to be the new dominant one anyway in the next month - covids going nowhere.

Threewheeler1 · 03/12/2021 17:56

Try not to feel guilty, it's in no way your fault OP!
This whole situation is depressing and pants.
Just focus on getting through it. Really hope you're feeling ok x

BigRedDuck · 03/12/2021 17:57

@PatientZerooo

I think I need to add ‘seriously fucking snappy’ to my symptom list. Literally having to bite my tongue every time I reply. Jesus.
Grin

You did what was expected of you OP and can do no more. Think of how many lives you've potentially saved. I hope you don't feel too ill with it Flowers

chesirecat99 · 03/12/2021 17:57

If they have said "suspected", I would assume that means that there was S gene drop out, as a PP suggested, so it isn't 100% sure that it is omicron. It could be alpha.

julieca · 03/12/2021 18:00

@chesirecat99 that is what it means. Because the full analysis takes longer. But alpha would be unusual at this stage.

mustlovegin · 03/12/2021 18:00

Don't feel guilty OP. I hope you get better soon Flowers

Frazzled2207 · 03/12/2021 18:02

@Watapalava

OP - why did you name them at all? If you genuinely thought it was delta, why not just pick up the phone and text them? Since they wouldnt have to isolate anyway? Identifying them to T&T was always going to be a risk - this close to xmas i'd be rightly pissed off and i know i wont be alone in thinking that - esp if they are double vax!
Are you for real?

Presumably as t&t have not not op that she has omicron and all her contacts are vaccinated, she had no idea they were going to be affected

Which is besides the point. Clearly this new variant needs to be slowed down if at all possible.

CavernousScream · 03/12/2021 18:04

There hasn’t been an alpha case in the U.K. since November 1st. There is a rare version of delta that has s gene dropout, but it’s so rare that it’s very likely OP has omicron.