Positive lateral flow 3 weeks after having Covid??

[GrahamNortonsjacket]

I have been just getting over Covid, had a negative lateral flow 1 week after. But haven't done another LF since then as still just trying to get rid of cough etc. Am about to visit my parents and have just had a positive LF!

I still haven't completely got rid of my symptoms from my original infection, but went for my first run this morning and felt pretty good and am definitely feeling better.

Have I got reinfected again so quickly??!

I was under the impression that you weren't supposed to test again for 90 days. That was certainly the case when I tested positive a year ago.

You can test positive for up to 3 months afterwards and aren't required to do LFTs (in England).

You will see a covid recovery pass in your NHS after about 2 weeks which you can use anywhere that requires a passport.

I think I would be less worried if I hadn't had a negative LF in between times!

My fear is that I'm just getting over Delta and I have just been infected by Omnicron?

They say not to test again for 90 days afterwards because your body can still be shedding dead virus, which shows up on LFTs/PCRs as a positive. It does not mean you have been reinfected.

There was a thread yesterday. You shouldn't do LFTs for 90 days but you can take a pcr if you have new symptoms.

To tell you that you're not exempt from PCR testing even if you've had covid in the last 90 days www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4430316-To-tell-you-that-youre-not-exempt-from-PCR-testing-even-if-youve-had-covid-in-the-last-90-days

This thread.

Can you do another couple of LFTs?

Fwiw I've had a few false positives with flowflex.

I have done 2 LFs today, both positive. No new symptoms.
Weakly positive, faint lines.

Yes likely reinfection x

You arent supposed to test again unless you get new symptoms

I am going to be prudent and assume it is a reinfection. But keep fingers crossed that it isn't a reinfection

Has anyone heard of a case of reinfection so soon after catching covid - less than a month?!

I had a reinfection after four weeks. I had new symptoms and a very positive lateral flow following four weeks of negative lateral flows and a complete recovery.

My DC had Covid (positive PCR but asymptomatic). A week later he had the classic symtoms of a cough and temp at the same time as about 7 from the class tested positive. We didn't test again but did isolate all over again just in case. Given the number of cases in the class at the time I wouldn't be surprised if it was a reinfection.

I’m a teacher and tested positive during two significant outbreaks in the year groups I was was teaching.

My DD’s friend has just tested positive again in a similar time frame.

Oh God. This really sucks. I still hadn't really got over the symptoms from my first infection!

Also, the first time I had covid, I had symptoms for 5 days before I tested positive on a LF.

This time round I have no symptoms (apart from the sinusitis caused by my first covid bout) but have a positive LF!

Am quite stressed about it as am staying with my in laws who have been boosted for about a month, but really worried that I have passed it on to them

How stressful for you, OP. It's all a bit 💩 really 😔. No personal experience on that short a reinfection.

@Anyother

How stressful for you, OP. It's all a bit 💩 really 😔. No personal experience on that short a reinfection.

Ah thank you. It is all a bit 💩, though I am well aware it is for a lot of people right now. We thought as we had all just had covid, we would be ok to stay with them 🙄. My MIL has a chest condition, so I keep thinking about that . I am tonight sleeping in the remaining empty bedroom, trying to separate myself from the rest of the household and have been wearing a mask all day since I found out and trying to stay away from everyone. It's a bit hard with young kids though.

OP it's possible that your negative LTF after 1 week was a false negative and you're just still testing positive from the first infection. Which they do say can happen for some time. Having said that, I've also read that LTFs have only a small window for testing positive. It's probably impossible to know. It's very shit. You are advised to do a PCR test I think but there's also every possibility that it will still show as positive but not be a new infection.

@Satsumay

OP it's possible that your negative LTF after 1 week was a false negative and you're just still testing positive from the first infection. Which they do say can happen for some time. Having said that, I've also read that LTFs have only a small window for testing positive. It's probably impossible to know. It's very shit. You are advised to do a PCR test I think but there's also every possibility that it will still show as positive but not be a new infection.

Yes, my plan is to see if my weak LF positive gets stronger, as it did with my husband.

I don't know why, but we did a second test on him the day after his first positive test and the test line came up more quickly and darker, I guess as his viral load went up.

So, I will see what happens tomorrow. If it darker, then it's pretty clear that it is a reinfection. If it is the same, I'll carry on being cautious and retest the following day.

But am now thinking maybe we should go home, but it is a long journey and my MIL was so emotional when we arrived, she would be so upset.
Lots to think about

You can have a positive for up to 90 days. X

I don't think I would go home in your position. You're already there - on balance it's highly unlikely to be a reinfection. And in the unlikely event it is - they've already been exposed. Your plan sounds good - in the meantime could you enjoy a bit of me time and let everyone else get on with it?

Can you not get a PCR to confirm if it's a reinfection or not?