Negative Lateral flows but PCR positive

[Bauble1234]

Someone I know had a close contact who tested positive for Coronavirus. He kept doing lateral flows which were all negative but did a PCR (as a precautionary measure) which tested positive. Is it because Lateral Flow tests are no good ie not accurate enough?

KCee30

“ They can be accurate fir some people but not others. They can't be relied on.”

To be more precise, a positive test can absolutely be relied on but a negative test cannot be relied on.”

@everythingthelighttouches

KCee30

“ They can be accurate fir some people but not others. They can't be relied on.”

To be more precise, a positive test can absolutely be relied on but a negative test cannot be relied on.”

Oh yeah absolutely. I meant if a lft is negative and you have symptoms, they can't be relied on so get a pcr 💕

Thank you all. LFTs seem like pregnancy tests in that a positive result can be relied upon as accurate but negative result could be wrong.

Saying that though, I have read that if you have had Coronavirus the PCR can give positive result for several months afterwards even though a person is no longer infectious. PCR is in this case picking up traces of the remains of the virus in the system.

The other thing to consider is that not all of us will be as infectious as others. You might have covid but have a very low viral load which will be picked up by a pcr but not LFTs. Now in this scenario surely the low viral load would mean less chance of passing it on? I am pretty sure I read something to this effect.