How likely is a positive PCR following multiple negative LTFs

[PlinkPlankPlunk]

I am a close contact of a close contact of an Omicron case The close contact of the case is awaiting PCR results, and obviously if she gets a positive I will have to test (and if she has Omicron, I’ll have to isolate - she is isolating already of course).

I have to do daily LFTs and all have come up negative, including today; what is the likelihood of suddenly getting a positive PCR? I’m double-vaxxed but supposed to be getting my booster next week, so perhaps with lessened resistance because of the length of time since the second jab?

Mainly though I’m wondering if I need to get a supermarket delivery in ASAP; I was supposed to be going away tomorrow so cupboards are completely bare!

I currently have covid. I took a LFT on Wednesday and one on Thursday and they were both negative, I also took a PCR on Thursday and the result came back positive. I also have both my jags.

I do have symptoms though so I wasn't surprised but it is definitely possible to get negative LF's then a positive PCR

Sorry to hear you have symptoms @Lou98 (obviously that was not the answer I wanted to hear!)

Definitely possible.
Me, DH and 2 DC all did LFT's.
One LFT showed positive so we all went and got PCR's.
All 4 PCR's came back positive.
No symptoms initially, but did go on to develop them over the coming days.
Me and and DH both double vaccinated.

Double vaccinated and bolstered here, currently have covid and feel rotten! My ltf were all negative (even an hour before I tested on PCR) but my sons was positive so got PCR and I was positive too! Good luck!

Happened to my dh, but he had symptoms.

Watching. DD has covid since last week, I’ve developed symptoms. I have done two LFTs today (both negative) and a PCR, awaiting PCR result

Looks quite likely the PCR may come out positive am triple jabbed but I know that doesn’t stop me catching it

DH tested positive on LFT Thursday night, DC1 negative on Friday morning, DC2 on Friday afternoon. DH got a positive PCR Friday, DCs got their positive PCRs on Saturday. I've been doing LFTs every day since Thursday and had a PCR with the kids. I've tested negative every single time. I have been triple jabbed (am clinically vulnerable so got started early), so I'm hoping that will keep me protected

Sorry, DC2 tested positive on Friday afternoon with lateral flow

Depends on the time since contact as to how
likely but it's possible. My eldest tested positive on the Monday. All others tested negative on PCR. My youngest had a positive LFT on the Thursday with no symptoms. My LFT was negative on Friday but the PCR from the same day came back positive. LFT Saturday morning (pre results) looked negative after 10 mins but when I went to bin it 30 mins later there was the faintest of lines. By this point I had v slight cold symptoms. LFT later on Saturday was clearer. Partner didn't test positive until Wednesday the following week.
Good luck.
If you want hope though - we've had a previous case of covid in the house and no one else caught it so it's hard to predict.

8 negative LFTs and then a positive PCR! I even did an LFT after the Positive PCR text and it STILL said negative. So now I have no faith in them really.

I’m currently positive. Caught off the kids. I’ve done countless LFT’s and no sign of a line on any of them.
I know many people who have had the same.

DH had a positive PCR a few months ago and only ever had negative lateral flows. Even after the email arrived saying he was positive. I am currently covid positive with symptoms. I tested negative on LFT's right up until today when I finally got a positive (by which point I had already done a PCR).

It is very possible to consistently test negative on a LFT yet positive on a PCR.

I really don't trust LFT's at all!

Thank you all for your experiences - I am sorry so many people have tested positive after their negative LFTs; I just don’t know why we rely on them so much!

I know I just have to be patient and wait until my contact gets her PCR back but it’s impossible not to race ahead and panic. I’ll miss my booster vax and all my pre-Christmas plans, of course; I know other people have it worse and all that but I am just mightily peed off!

To add a bit of balance, I'm a teacher and pretty much all the cases at work have been picked up first by a ltf and then confirmed by a pcr. A friends son was completely asymptomatic and was tested as children in his class had covid, the ltf showed a strong line straight away. So in my experience the ltfs are pretty good at picking up covid.