Is there a point in doing a pcr?

[Couldntmissthisonethisyear]

My sons class got sent home yesterday as the teacher and 8 children were positive.
He was negative on a lateral flow last night and a very faint line tonight.
Feeling under the weather with a mild cough, its obviously covid.

What is the need for a pcr now as we will all just stay home now anyway so it would just be adding to the numbers.

Or is there an actual reason that my stressed head can't think of, I thought about a recovery pass but he's not old enough to need to show one?
As for tracing contacts it would only be his class and they're all contacts anyway and are at home with the advice to get a pcr.

I would definitely do PCR. Partly for individual reasons - to have it on your medical records - but also so there is a true reflection of the covid numbers.

@slaybell

I wouldn't bother with one if I was positive on LFT. I'd be isolating anyway.

The only reason I see is to determine if it's omicron as your household also needs to isolate with you. Unless you are all isolating anyway? Then I don't see the point really.

That's not true anymore.

I would get a PCF if you can because:

It will be on their health record.

It will explain any future positive test results after they have recovered (my niece tested positive for 2.5 months). I know they are young enough that they didn't currently need to be routinely tested to access anything- but this could change.

If vaccination of younger age groups is implemented he probably would be advised to wait 12 weeks post infection, so a record would be helpful.

‘Just adding to the numbers’ will help to give a better picture of what the real situation is out there and contribute to eat decisions are made. One test is a very small piece of that picture but it is part of it.
On a personal level, it puts the information on his health record should he need medical support in either the short of long term.

It's estimated that 1 in 7* children get Long Covid, so it's worth the confirmation IMO, particularly in a situation where we have an overwhelmed health service and there's a fight to be seen by specialists.

*ONS figures

I don’t think the PCR will help access additional medical help really. If someone presents with long covid symptoms and says they tested positive on x date with a LFT I don’t think they’ll be disbelieved.

We've obviously had very different experiences of the NHS Frida!

I work in a GP surgery and people with suspected long covid cannot be referred in to long covid clinics without a positive recorded pcr. For me that’s a good enough reason to get a pcr, and also to exclude you from lateral flow testing for 90 days and pcr testing for 1 month.

Definitely worth backing it up with a pcr.

Lfts can give false negatives, you'd find out if it's omicron and it goes on the official figures.

If anything heath wise happened later you'd need it as back up ie long covid.

If he needs a PCR in Jan or Feb (for example because he has symptoms and school won't let him back in without a negative PCR) it'll be positive so he'll have to isolate for 10 days which will be v disruptive.

Plus the points about civic duty and understanding the extent of the spread.

Hope he stays okay!

Loads of parents at school aren't getting PCRs. The figures are high but are clearly way out going by people on here aren't bothering either.

It’s really important to get the PCR.

Like PPs have said, it needs to go into personal medical records.

Also, tho, public health teams and the NHS spend a lot of time looking at where the cases currently are in each area. The information is used to plan services, additional vaccination provision, additional testing services. The PCR data shape the pandemic response.

If a child in a school tests positive on PCR, the number of cases is closely monitored and specific actions are triggered. The PCR result contributes to protecting other people - especially people who are high risk/clinically vulnerable.

Everyone needs to get a PCR if they feel unwell or have a positive LFT. The data can be used to try to stop the virus spreading further and protect other people.

For those worried about test and trace being a pain, they only rang once and haven't called back. They're absolutely overwhelmed and prioritising people who pick up first time.

I'd get the PCR, as others say you've no idea when the rules may change and you might need proof of infection. It helps the government to have a bigger picture too (not sure they can be relied upon but he ho you'll have done your bit).

I'd do one just so there is "proof" to exempt them from testing in the next 90 days

For me it's about track and trace . Even though there endless news about how shit they are. I can only say everyone I know who's had dealing have been complexity hounded by them and endless phone calls.

2 had spot checks to see if they were at home .

This thread is a revelation. It hadn’t occurred to me that people weren’t getting PCRs routinely to confirm covid.

OP you should get him a PCR as proof of when he had Covid. If he needs routine surgery for anything the anaesthetist may ask if he’s had covid and you’ll need the positive test notification.

I’ve had two 77+ week patients cancelled on the day for elective urology surgery in the past month because they announced to the anaesthetist they’d had undocumented covid (I think she asked. I think she has to. I’m not present for that bit.) It isn’t the covid she has a problem with. It’s lack of official proof of when they had it.

@PrincessMaryaBolkonskaya that's interesting why is that?

I think it’s because the colleges have recommended no non-emergency GA in the 7 weeks post covid @Bubblty but I couldn’t swear it.

The operational fall out is my concern

the only thing I can think of would be a possible future issue with LFT testing, especially when (if) schools go back in Jan. I dont know if you're in England, but my DC school will be doing LFTs in school when kids return in Jan. Advice is not to test for 90 days following covid, as can get false positive so he may need the positive result to be expempted from lft testing - or risk a false positive lft and the hassle of time out of school and needing a pcr then(although I now realise he may be younger and therefor this may not apply - mine are at secondary so not sure if they are testing at primary school?)

TulipsGarden

I would want it on my health records - it's much easier to access help with long Covid if you havea positive test result. As a child he's less likely to bed that, but you never know.

And I think it's the responsible thing to do - as a society we need to know how it's spreading.

Yep. All of this. Now thinking it must be even more prevalent based on this thread.

I don’t think anyone is exempt from testing within 90 days, since omicron arrived at least. I’ve read somewhere on the gov website that even if it’s within 90 days, if you get new symptoms or are a close contact you should still get a PCR. Not great as the original infection could still show but I suppose they don’t want to take any chances.

I would definitely do a PCR test just to confirm, then at least I could stop worrying about catching it and would know for sure.

Just to have it on record so if you want to go on holiday next year he will be down as "recovered from infection". Might come in handy.

@PrincessMaryaBolkonskaya

I think it’s because the colleges have recommended no non-emergency GA in the 7 weeks post covid *@Bubblty* but I couldn’t swear it.

The operational fall out is my concern

That would make sense. Yeah I bet its a nightmare when it happens

@Nothingoriginalhere

I work in a GP surgery and people with suspected long covid cannot be referred in to long covid clinics without a positive recorded pcr. For me that’s a good enough reason to get a pcr, and also to exclude you from lateral flow testing for 90 days and pcr testing for 1 month.

But there was quite a long period of time at the start of the pandemic where we didnt have tests! What happens tk these people?