To ask you to please not rely on lft's if you have symptoms.

[Coronachristmas21]

About 10 days ago Dp went on a work training course with someone he wouldn't normally have much contact at all with (work in the same place but not close by). His work is pretty social distanced but the training day was not. He was sat near to the guy all day on training course for one day. The guy was sniffing, sneezing and coughing all the way through but he said he had got a negative lft so he was 'fine' in his words.

Very next morning less than 12 hours after last contact, the guy tested positive on a lft and comfirmed by pcr. Just a few days later Dp tested positive and isolating until later in the week. Thankfully not overly unwell and pretty much over it.

Now our autistic son has tested positive. Thankfully mild symptoms but he's had an hour long meltdown because in his words 'he has the virus' and 'Christmas will be rubbish'

Probably get through me and Dd as well.

I know we could have caught anywhere but we try minimise the risk. I'm not working currently and don't really go very far and get most things delivered, dc are primary age and there has been next to no cases in their small village school! Dp's work is usually distanced. We don't go to crowded places, wears masks etc. We've avoided it for 21 months.

I am pretty pissed at the situation, but I know there's not much j can do about it. But the point of my post is to please don't rely on lft's this Christmas when you have symptoms. They can work, Dp had a strong instant positive when asymptomatic but sometimes don't work when you are actually ill?! 🤷‍♀️

To add, please don't think it's covid if it's like a cold. Both Dp's and DS's symptoms are cold like. Sneezy, runny nose etc!

To add be careful when thinking about sending your dc to school. Ds could have gone school all week. He had two negative pcrs on Monday and Wednesday (despite actually having symptoms on Wednesday) re-tested him yesterday which was positive, it can change so quickly.

Just want to rant. I've had the most rubbish year or so with bereavement and other things as well as covid and I feel like I just want to curl up and cry.

I am grateful that neither Dp or Ds is particularly ill.

I also care for my grandma but haven't been in because of this. Even though I'm still negative, I don't wanna risk anything 😪

you are right...the "common knowledge" has been the simple statement that LFT doesn't work or is less accurate once there are symptoms....as I mentioned earlier in the thread my understanding from a bioscience friend of mine is that too high a viral load denaturises the enzyme used in the test. Does this made any sense to you? Perhaps as a professional you may be better at finding the research on this?

Yes, I've tried very hard & can't find anything. Scientifically it doesn't make sense.

It doesn’t make sense I agree. My first LFT was negative when I had mild symptoms but my second one was positive when my symptoms were more developed. Same for lots of people I know. What would be the point in an LFT that doesn’t pick up the virus when you clearly have it. I understand LFTs not registering mild symptoms as there’s not enough viral material to pick up on.

Thanks for the lecture OP but I don't know why you think you have any authority to come on here and tell people what you think they should do.