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Original poster

Positive lft what to do next

29 replies

Upthecreek04 · 27/12/2021 16:28

Hi all.

Had a positive lft this morning on routine twice weekly lft and have started to feel ill aswell, fuzzy head, tired, aching limbs etc

I know I need to book a PCR but there's none showing as available, closest one is wales.

Do I actually have to go for a PCR? I'm double jabbed plus booster and have been for months I'm in one of the priority categories.

If I got a postal one surely it would take ages to get there and back.

How long do you have to get a PCR I'm updating the booking page regularly

We have notified contacts whom we have seen within the last few days ourselves.and they have all done lft and all negative

If I can't get a test can I just isolate for the next 7-10 days . I don't understand the 7 day thing. I understand that if you get a negative lft on days 6 and 7 you can stop isolation but what if one is positive do you do it again on days 8-9, this is all so confusing and fuzzy head isn't helping

Im a SAHM so don't need a PCR result for work etc

Can anyone advise please? Can you just turn up to a test center without a booking?

OP posts:
Chewbecca · 27/12/2021 16:29

I’d order the postal one and isolate.

Iggly · 27/12/2021 16:29

A postal one took less than 48 hours to arrive and about 30 hours to get a result.

So, order a postal one and you can try and book in for a test in the meantime.

But the positive LFT is likely confirmation enough.

SheWoreYellow · 27/12/2021 16:30

If you get the postal one you can note your first day of symptoms, so your ten days starts from then and it doesn’t greatly matter if it takes ages to come back.

NightmareLoon · 27/12/2021 16:31

Keep checking the testing site as appointments are released in batches.

Frazzled2207 · 27/12/2021 16:31

My husband didn’t do a pcr just isolated for 10 days (before rule change). He wfh so work not affected at all as he didn’t need time off.

Overall however I think it’s going to be useful to have it in your medical records so just get a postal one just make sure you let them know the first day of symptoms or positive LFT (whichever was sooner).

Frazzled2207 · 27/12/2021 16:34

If you are positive on day 6 but negative on day 7 then you can stop isolating 24 hours later on day 8 assuming the last lft is negative too.

If positive day 7 then you need negative on day 8 and 9 to stop isolating on day 9.

potoforchids · 27/12/2021 16:35

You need to do a postal one

Original poster
Upthecreek04 · 27/12/2021 16:37

Thanks

Re. Postal ones don't they have to go in certain postboxes I'm sure I've heard this somewhere like a priority postbox is it called? Or can they go in normal ones?

OP posts:
Sunshineandrainbow · 27/12/2021 16:38

@Frazzled2207

If you are positive on day 6 but negative on day 7 then you can stop isolating 24 hours later on day 8 assuming the last lft is negative too.

If positive day 7 then you need negative on day 8 and 9 to stop isolating on day 9.

If you still have symptoms is this void?
Frazzled2207 · 27/12/2021 16:45

@Sunshineandrainbow

Don’t think so. Lft is a measure of how infectious you are. Some symptoms can linger for a long time especially a cough and loss of taste. But the infectiousness goes after a few days even if you are still symptomatic.

Mindymomo · 27/12/2021 16:47

Order a home PCR test, it should arrive tomorrow and you should get result back by weekend if you post back same day. Or isolate, but I think I’d really want confirmation.

Iggly · 27/12/2021 16:48

[quote Frazzled2207]@Sunshineandrainbow

Don’t think so. Lft is a measure of how infectious you are. Some symptoms can linger for a long time especially a cough and loss of taste. But the infectiousness goes after a few days even if you are still symptomatic.[/quote]
That’s not right. If you still have a fever you’re not allowed to stop isolating earlier with negative LFTs.

Iggly · 27/12/2021 16:48

@Upthecreek04

Thanks

Re. Postal ones don't they have to go in certain postboxes I'm sure I've heard this somewhere like a priority postbox is it called? Or can they go in normal ones?

Yes - you can look up priority boxes on the Royal Mail website. Otherwise you can post in a normal one, they just take a bit longer.
Akire · 27/12/2021 16:50

@Upthecreek04

Thanks

Re. Postal ones don't they have to go in certain postboxes I'm sure I've heard this somewhere like a priority postbox is it called? Or can they go in normal ones?

They need to go in one of main ones that will 100% be picked up for last post. If you local in post office site or use google maps for priority post box’s it will show nearest ones. All quite straight forward.
Paquerette · 27/12/2021 16:51

@Upthecreek04

Thanks

Re. Postal ones don't they have to go in certain postboxes I'm sure I've heard this somewhere like a priority postbox is it called? Or can they go in normal ones?

PCR tests have to go in Priority boxes. You can look up your nearest one on the Royalmail website. It’s under “services in your area” - you just click on the priority box part. They are just regular post boxes, but are just used for covid tests.
3WildOnes · 27/12/2021 16:51

I have two family members who didn’t bother with a PCR, they just isolated for the 10 days as required. I can’t see the problem other than it might mess with the government monitoring.

gogohm · 27/12/2021 16:51

More appointments were uploaded at 4pm apparently. Legally I believe you do have to do a pcr. It doesn't matter if it's delayed a bit because day one is when your lft is positive

Purplewithred · 27/12/2021 16:51

You will probably find tomorrow's non-postal booking slots suddenly open up at about 6pm - try again then if you'd rather do that. Worked for us. Got results in less than 24 hours.

User754390 · 27/12/2021 16:53

Easiest for you would be a postal one and isolate in the meantime since you haven't got to go to work so wouldn't be in a hurry for a result, that would give you confirmation.

SergeiL · 27/12/2021 16:57

You should really do the PCR. It helps with the monitoring/tracking, means it gets registered with Test and Trace, goes on your medical records etc.

99victoria · 27/12/2021 17:07

Two of my adult children got positive LFTs last week - one on Wednesday afternoon and one on Thursday night. Neither has bothered to get a PCR. They both had symptoms and with Christmas it didn't seem worth bothering. They both felt unwell so it seemed to make more sense to stay indoors away from others and just do the 10 day isolation rather than travel miles to try and get a PCR, the results of which would probably not be back until they were almost out of isolation!

lemonsaretheonlyfruit · 27/12/2021 17:17

I tested positive 8 days ago and have not done a PCR but have followed all of the rules (including spending Christmas Day on my own).
I care about not putting others at risk. I don't care about providing info to the government or being bombarded by texts and calls telling me to isolate when I know exactly what to do. I don't need it to be on my medical records. It feels as if it benefits everyone but the person taking the test!

Sunshineandrainbow · 27/12/2021 17:33

[quote Frazzled2207]@Sunshineandrainbow

Don’t think so. Lft is a measure of how infectious you are. Some symptoms can linger for a long time especially a cough and loss of taste. But the infectiousness goes after a few days even if you are still symptomatic.[/quote]
I have not tested positive on lft only a pcr. I do have symptoms.

MimosaFields · 27/12/2021 17:34

A couple of weeks ago, my LFT and then PCR were positive and this clearly triggered the positive protocol: calls from test and Trace, isolation etc. In retrospect, I could have just isolated for 10 days and saved the hassle of the phone calls. If I ever test positive again, I will not bother with a PCR. I know what to do.

PotteringAlong · 27/12/2021 17:36

@lemonsaretheonlyfruit why doesn’t it need to be on your medical records? Also, it means that you’re exempt from testing for 90 days to so, if something requires a clear PCR in 2 months time and you cannot provide one because of having Covid now, but you can’t prove it either, then that would be problematic.

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