Why would people not do PCR if they've tested positive on LFT? (Not in order to avoid isolation, they are doing that quite happily)

[Tryingtryingandtrying]

Just that really. Why would someone do this? Is there a benefit in getting PCR confirmation?

@BobLemon

Is there a benefit to getting a positive PCR? Anything to do with future travel plans or “covid passports”?

Lots of people need it as proof to show their workplace .

We didn't, we had several positive LTF, really poorly.

Totally isolated. Test centre is 14 miles away and too ill to drive anyway.

Ordered postal tests, which arrived two days later. By that time it was v obvious we had it. Nearest post box is several miles and I didn't want to drive.

If I ever got a positive LFT, then no I wouldn’t bother getting a confirmation through PCR. There is no one to show it to and I am fully vaccinated with no travel plans.

However, if the kids or my DH ever tested positive on LFTs we would probably need to get PCR tests if school/ work requires. We would ask them first though. I think DH work might accept the LFT result. Not sure about the kids school.

We have never had a positive test though so this scenario has never happened. It’s test and trace which really put me off PCR tests, and I dread having to get them done.

Glad to hear it's not just me. I was feeling a bit guilty as everyone I know seems to follow all the instructions. I had positive lft for a few days. Felt ill but nothing too bad. Stayed at home and self isolated. I didn't see the point of the pcr. Fed up of the government trying to control us.

My sister was on her own and felt too ill go to a testing station and knew she wouldn't be able to walk to a post box to post a home test.

Lft could be false positive better to get a pcr n be sure

I wouldn't for all of the reasons already stated, retired so don't need to worry about work and can easily isolate.

I personally would want it on my medical records if I had it

@autieok

Lft could be false positive better to get a pcr n be sure

I’d be more worried about the PCR being a false negative personally, because I am absolutely woeful at doing the throat swabs. Like a PP above, I find them absolutely excruciating to do, gag, retch…..last PCR I did I got the HCP at the drive through centre to take the swab and it took her 3 tries and I vomited (had a sick bag ready in the car).

Now we have the nasal only LFTs I can do them fine at home. If I get a positive I’ll be asking my work if they definitely definitely need a PCR.

If during this week I can see why.

I did my LFT Friday before visiting vulnerable people on Saturday.

I said if ds or I were positive we'd isolate and do the day 6/7 tests but by the time we'd ordered pcr or got an apt (up to 2 days) and got the results 48-72 hours currently we'd be allowed to test to release.

What point would a pcr test have been and someone ringing us for a day? We had no close contacts anyway because we were careful due to visiting vulnerable relatives.

My DC didn't have PCRs after positive LFTs this summer. We knew they had it, confined them to their bedrooms and the garden and we all stayed home with no outside contact. All the people they'd been in contact with also had it (they got it last).

I don't want to be interrogated and phoned to be checked up on every five minutes as I'm a proper functioning adult, thanks.

I could only see disadvantages in PCRs and no advantages so we didn't do them. DH and I didn't get Covid.

I only got a PCR as there’s an outbreak where I work and we feel our employer has been negligent in protecting staff. I imagine there may be some action taken and as I can’t stand my boss I’m happy to help the cause. I otherwise wouldn’t have bothered as I’m off work anyway so don’t need proof.

In terms of is there a "point" to getting a pcr, they used to say that you couldn't do another pcr within 3 months of a positive, so for children in particular it made sense to get it "officially confirmed" so you'd get 3 months break from the school sending them home for a pcr every time they coughed.

I'm not quite sure now with omicron, because I've seen loads of people saying they've had it twice within 3 months, so maybe they've changed that 90 day rule?

@LemonViolet if a throat swab makes you actually puke then you can use just both nostrils for a pcr (this is the standard guidance for all under 11s because so many of them puke with the throat swab!)

T&T doesn't work at all well with the amount of people getting it and the time taking to get a result at the moment, it really works best in small outbreaks, so at the moment it is a bit of a waste of time and money.

@LuckyAmy1986

I personally would want it on my medical records if I had it

So would I. I think if you're unlucky enough to be one of the people who struggled with long covid, you'd struggle to access any of the services you might need without proof of a confirmed case of covid. That and needing proof for work are why I would get a PCR test.

Just to add, my dd had covid 2 weeks ago. I had ONE phone call from T&T. Had a text message a couple of days later. But that was it. Was expecting alot more to be honest.

I’ve complied with everything so far but if I had symptoms and a positive LFT, I wouldn’t bother with the PCR. I’d just isolate.

I’d have the PCR if I had a positive LFT without symptoms, to try to figure out whether I had it or not.

I can understand people needing PCR confirmation for work or travel.

Because I know when and where we caught it, every close contact has already been told. And it's Christmas and I don't want to hold down the kids to do a pcr when we can just get on with isolating instead.

If one person in the family had had a positive PCR then I would assume that any others with positive LFTs had it too and not bother with PCRs unless they were needed for work/ school.

Because they don't care about accuracy of the data on which the government is basing key decisions that have a massive impact on everyone's lives?

Or because they don't understand why tracking the spread of omicron matters? Or that sequencing from PCR samples is the only way of tracking variants (old and new) or spotting new ones such as Kent

My mum has covid and is isolating. She's not bothering with a PCR because she caught it at a dinner party with her siblings and has let them all know. What would the benefit be to anyone to involve 'the authorities'?

Because they can't get to a test centre or post box without using public transport.

I think you know you’ve got it (chance of false positive is v v v low right now with Covid circulating so much) what’s the point? You isolate. You don’t need to use government resources, contribute yet more plastic waste, bother with form filling from T&T and constant calls.
Also if you’re planning low/ no risk law breaking - if you want to walk the dog over deserted fields or whatever - surely better just not to have officially registered as a positive?

Sometimes it's not always possible to get to a drive through test centre. At one point the closest one to us was a 45 minute drive away. Who wants to do that when they are feeling crap? If you've had a positive LFT and plan to isolate anyway then why do you need the confirmation? I'm yet to meet anyone who has had a positive LFT followed by a negative PCR.