Still positive

[Pinkandpink]

Sorry if this has been asked before. I tested positive last tuesday. My 10 days are up today. Not been anywhere as I’m still feeling crap. Just no energy and feeling exhausted. The temp and cough are away. Just out of curiosity I done a lateral flow test today and it’s still a strong positive. I take it I’m still not contagious? I won’t be going anywhere this weekend but start back at work again Monday.

I know the advice is not to retest
www.devon.gov.uk/news/covid-19-testing-confusion/

but I heard some scientist on the radio the other day, talking about Christmas, saying that if you are still testing positive at the end of your isolation then it would be best to cancel going to/having vulnerable relatives over on Christmas Day!

Thank you

Hi just wondered OP if you are testing negative now? Im on day 8 and still positive on the LFT which is worrying me a little.

Thanks

DH, DS1 and DS2 all took over 2 weeks to stop showing strongly positive on their lateral flow, they were all still unwell too.

DD who was only was pretty much asymptomatic, never had a positive lateral flow.

I'm on day 15 and still feel pretty rough. Still tested positive on day 13. Decided at that point not to do anymore tests!!!

I've heard of people continuing to test positive after weeks and weeks. However DH never tested positive on a LFT - only on PCR (with very mild symptoms) and DS stopped testing positive after about 5 days.

The variation in just our family is amazing really

Oh no sorry to hear. Hope you feel better soon! Have you spoken to GP or 111 for advice? What symptoms do you still have?

I read some research recently that says the LFT's only show up when you are still infected and therefore can still spread it, don't forget some countries were doing 21 days isolation as they know some people can be infectious for longer.
Reading between the lines if you get negative LFT's but a positive PCR its likely that you are past the infectious stage when testing!

www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2021/oct/lateral-flow-tests-detect-most-people-risk-transmitting-covid-19

Quote from research

LFTs detect material from the surface proteins of the virus and are very likely to give a positive result when someone is infectious whereas PCR tests detect the virus’ genetic material, which can be present for weeks after a person is no longer infectious.

My DH tested positive on lateral flow until day 16.

@Bellybutton88

Oh no sorry to hear. Hope you feel better soon! Have you spoken to GP or 111 for advice? What symptoms do you still have?

I am beyond exhausted, hacking cough and cracking headache still. I did speak to GP on Friday and am now on antibiotics (just in case really). Signed off sick until Wednesday.

It's really quite shocked me as I'm normally fairly robust when it comes to sickness.

Thank you for asking 🙏

Hi @mrsdolittle i do hope you feel better real soon!

It can show positive for a while. You can finish isolating after 10 days if you don't have a fever.

I have a friend who had covid and totally asymptomatic. Detected as she was a close contact. Her lft's were positive for ages after.