Is there any benefits to a PCR test

[daisybrown37]

My son (8) and I got positive LFT on Thursday. I have had a positive PCR which I managed to book the same day, but haven’t done one on my 8 year old as he hated the LFT and I didn’t think he would respond well to the walk in test centre (he has ASD and sensory processing disorder)

A postal one should arrive today - but is it worth doing? Is there any benefits to him or the school to know it is a confirmed case? He is isolating anyway. My husband and other son have done PCR tests (eldest so we can rule it and he can attend school).

The only benefit I can see so far is that I am allowed out the house to post it back! That 5 minute walk would be lovely (although if my H test comes back negative then I will obviously send him)

If he had the omicron variant some of the children in his class may be required to isolate as close contacts.

Ps. I hope you all stay as well as possible!

We didn’t PCR our 9 year old for the same reason. He finds the tests distressing, we’ve all got covid so the chances of his positive lft being wrong are slim. We are isolating him in accordance with the rules. I don’t see what a PCR would add (other than to get him into the official govt statistics).

It is also helpful to school as they can track any spread and adjust what is happening accordingly.
Hope you all recover quickly.

Thanks CrapDrawer - I did wonder about Omicron. I will do it, just to be on the safe side.

He is absolutely fine and is going to be bouncing off the walls. I feel like I have a cold.

Thanks. I will give it a go with him. He might be okay with nose only.

I think that if his PCR is negative then he doesn't need to isolate. However, if you're positive and there's no one else to take him out then he's isolating anyway

It goes on your medical records.

I suppose there's a tiny chance he might need medical help for covid, I imagine that would be a smoother process if there's a PCR on file.

Would he cope with doing nose only to himself? Or is he a heavy enough sleeper that you could do his nose when he's asleep? I wouldn't bother unless you can find a way that won't distress him, just assume he's positive and isolate on that basis.

If you are planning to travel to anywhere within the next 3 months or so a PCR test required for travel may come up as positive after having had covid. A positive PCR test now will be on medical records and act as proof of infection so test pre travel not required. Another reason why it’s worth having a PCR test even though you will all be isolating anyway

@daisybrown37

Thanks CrapDrawer - I did wonder about Omicron. I will do it, just to be on the safe side.

He is absolutely fine and is going to be bouncing off the walls. I feel like I have a cold.

Good luck! I got my 9 year old to do it on himself in the summer which he preferred.