Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

What on Earth is going on with LFTs?

33 replies

Ellie1311 · 29/12/2021 14:30

Partner now on day 12 of testing positive on LFTs yet 3 NEGATIVE PCRs.
Line strength started off very faint day 1 and gradually got darker until about day 6/7- yesterday he was negative, then today the line is fairly strong again (day 12)

He’s had a slight cold (literally for about 3 days out of the 12)
I just don’t understand what the hell is going on? People keep telling us to stop testing now as he’d be out of isolation anyway but if anything I’m just really intrigued.

Could he have some sort mutation of covid that’s triggering the LFTs but not the PCRs?

OP posts:
TinyLittlePandaSneeze · 29/12/2021 15:04

Is he doing the LFTs and PCRs exactly as the instructions say?

SLH2003 · 29/12/2021 15:05

See thread stop wasting lfts

Ouch44 · 29/12/2021 15:09

Yep no wonder there are no LFTs for NHS staff. The nurse in charge of LFTs for staff at DHs work had none left when my DH last asked before Xmas. Luckily we had some from DC school or he wouldn't have been able to test before he went back in after mixing with family at Xmas.

Original poster
Ellie1311 · 29/12/2021 15:25

@SLH2003

See thread stop wasting lfts
We have an elderly relative in a care home and a premature nephew who we’ve avoided seeing over Christmas because of the positive LFTs- so even though technically he’d be out of isolation we will continue to use them daily. - Thank you for your ‘help’
OP posts:
Original poster
Ellie1311 · 29/12/2021 15:26

@TinyLittlePandaSneeze

Is he doing the LFTs and PCRs exactly as the instructions say?
He’s doing them all the same so it’s just really confusing? The second PCR he took extra time with it as he thought maybe he contaminated the first one by fluke. And we just did another one a couple of days ago. It’s just really confusing.
OP posts:
Original poster
Ellie1311 · 29/12/2021 15:31

@Ouch44

Yep no wonder there are no LFTs for NHS staff. The nurse in charge of LFTs for staff at DHs work had none left when my DH last asked before Xmas. Luckily we had some from DC school or he wouldn't have been able to test before he went back in after mixing with family at Xmas.
Yes I’ll be sure to let him know it’s his fault that he wanted to keep his 98 year old Grandma and premature nephew safe over Christmas and going forward.
OP posts:
foxgoosefinch · 29/12/2021 15:34

I’ve had symptoms for four days now and have tested positive on four LFTs - one each day - yet just got a negative PCR (despite having tracked it and seen it was sitting in the local sorting office for three days). False negative PCR? Sample not good enough? I have no idea. Classic omicron symptoms. Other people in the house testing negative with LFTs from the same pack. Don’t know what’s going on!

CosmoMint · 29/12/2021 15:34

Does eating or drinking anything affect the result? Maybe make sure he hasn’t eaten or drunk anything too soon before doing the test.

Original poster
Ellie1311 · 29/12/2021 21:24

@foxgoosefinch

I’ve had symptoms for four days now and have tested positive on four LFTs - one each day - yet just got a negative PCR (despite having tracked it and seen it was sitting in the local sorting office for three days). False negative PCR? Sample not good enough? I have no idea. Classic omicron symptoms. Other people in the house testing negative with LFTs from the same pack. Don’t know what’s going on!
Exactly what happened to my partner. But he had extremely mild symptoms - now has none at all but still testing positive on flow flex. I’d book another PCR for a couple of days time as I’ve heard that some people are testing too early?
OP posts:
Original poster
Ellie1311 · 29/12/2021 21:28

@CosmoMint

Does eating or drinking anything affect the result? Maybe make sure he hasn’t eaten or drunk anything too soon before doing the test.
He’s been waiting the minimum 30 minutes after eating / drinking - usually does the LFT first thing before breakfast.
OP posts:
Unoriginal43 · 29/12/2021 21:29

Stop wasting PCRs. Tested and negative. Carry on. No symptoms and want to test again? It’s 10 days. No more. Some people test positive on lfts way past 10 days.

Feather12 · 29/12/2021 21:36

Yes, I’ll be sure to let him know it’s his fault that he wanted to keep his 98 year old Grandma and premature nephew safe over Christmas and going forward.
How did testing everyday keep them safe?

GoodnightGrandma · 29/12/2021 21:38

What a waste of tests 🙄

JanglyBeads · 29/12/2021 21:41

@Feather12

Yes, I’ll be sure to let him know it’s his fault that he wanted to keep his 98 year old Grandma and premature nephew safe over Christmas and going forward. How did testing everyday keep them safe?
Presumably because he put off having contact with them?
JanglyBeads · 29/12/2021 21:42

Having symptoms plus positive LFT(s) = definite covid in most scientists' books.

Up to 30% of negative PCRs are wrong.

Original poster
Ellie1311 · 29/12/2021 21:43

@Unoriginal43

Stop wasting PCRs. Tested and negative. Carry on. No symptoms and want to test again? It’s 10 days. No more. Some people test positive on lfts way past 10 days.
Taking PCRs is surely more responsible than assuming he didn’t have it and mixing with our vulnerable family members. He took them on day 2, day 5 and day 10. We just wanted to make sure it hadn’t been missed seeing as people get positives PCRs at various points.
OP posts:
Feather12 · 29/12/2021 21:44

Presumably because he put off having contact with them?
But he should have done that after the positive test on DAY ONE.

Original poster
Ellie1311 · 29/12/2021 21:45

@Feather12

Yes, I’ll be sure to let him know it’s his fault that he wanted to keep his 98 year old Grandma and premature nephew safe over Christmas and going forward. How did testing everyday keep them safe?
He didn’t want to risk going near them (even with negative PCRs) whilst he was still getting positive LFTs.
OP posts:
Original poster
Ellie1311 · 29/12/2021 21:48

@Feather12

Presumably because he put off having contact with them? But he should have done that after the positive test on DAY ONE.
He got a negative PCR on day 3. But his LFTs were still positive and he stayed away. If he was irresponsible he could have sacked off the LFTs and possibly risked passing something on incase the PCRs were wrong for whatever reason.
OP posts:
Flapjacker48 · 29/12/2021 21:50

such a waste of tests - shameful OP

CraftyGin · 29/12/2021 21:52

Why is it urgent that he meets his nephew?

StrawberryLace2 · 29/12/2021 21:53

OP, there has been a few issues with this, what I would say is that if he is on day 12 of positive LFTs then stop testing even if the PCRs were incorrect and he has had COVID he is now past isolation and I would say to not test for 90 days unless he is symptomatic and requires another PCR,
LFT are in short supply and staff in NHS are struggling to do their tests so this post is not likely to be received well,
Wear masks and keep alcohol gel handy when visiting relatives

Feather12 · 29/12/2021 21:54

Why would he even consider going to visit them after even one positive test? What a waste of tests. Just quarantine to keep everyone safe.

elelel · 29/12/2021 21:56

Are they flowflex?

Original poster
Ellie1311 · 29/12/2021 21:59

@CraftyGin

Why is it urgent that he meets his nephew?
Who said it was urgent? He already met his nephew a few weeks ago. He is on an oxygen tank at home as his lungs still haven’t fully developed, so obviously he doesn’t want to go near him again unless he knows for certain he isn’t carrying anything.
OP posts: