Lateral flow faint line

[GrapefruitGin]

Firstly happy new year all.
I regularly test for work, every 2-3 days. Recently I have had a couple of occasions where I’ve noticed a very faint second line. The first time I noticed this I isolated, called in sick to work and waited for pcr. It came back negative thankfully but since then, I’ve had another two very faint lines when testing. When I’ve taken another test to be sure, there’s no second line visible so I’m confused. To be clear, I’ve had no symptoms what so ever nor have I been a contact of someone who has tested positive. I’ve tried researching online why this could be happening. I’ve ordered another pcr to be sure. Has this happened to anyone else? Am I doing something wrong? Surely it’s pretty impossible to get wrong! To add, I don’t leave the test longer than 30 mins, I always set a timer so I know that’s not the issue. Going mad here! TIA

I get a faint line on a flowflex every single time so stopped using them.

@ConcernedAuntie that’s so rubbish. Have you considered not regularly testing? I wonder if it would relieve a lot of stress and worry

Thank you @GrapefruitGin. Yes it is rubbish. I don't test regularly, as in once or twice a week; we are retired so can go for days without seeing anyone. We do test before meeting family/friends indoors and I can feel the tension building when I know I need to test because I know it will be positive and we won't be able to go. There have been lot of tears and disappointment over the last few weeks especially.

However, I would never consider not testing on the offchance I was actually positive. I don't want Covid because I have a kidney disease but my main worry is passing it on to someone who may become very ill.

I'm thinking maybe only seeing people with a 14 day break in between so even if I did pick anything up I would be within the quarantine period before I saw anyone else anyway.

It's a pain and I need to try and find out why this is happening but I have no idea who to ask. GP and 119 are not interested.

Not flow flex but these were my positive lateral flow tests, two negative pcrs. I'm not using the tests anymore!

@ConcernedAuntie agreed. Such a shame you have to limit your social plans because of dodgy tests. I had no idea who to ask either. I’m panicking my workplace will start to question how often I’m isolating due to positive lfts. Wonder if there is a way of getting hold of the old style tests as I had no issues with those. Have you reported this on the yellow card (?) website? I haven’t yet but I ought to.

I have orient gene nasal only ones and some ds brought home from school ages ago that are nose and throat (blue and white box). He has recently brought home the flowflex ones too but this thread makes me scared to use them!

[quote GrapefruitGin]@ConcernedAuntie agreed. Such a shame you have to limit your social plans because of dodgy tests. I had no idea who to ask either. I’m panicking my workplace will start to question how often I’m isolating due to positive lfts. Wonder if there is a way of getting hold of the old style tests as I had no issues with those. Have you reported this on the yellow card (?) website? I haven’t yet but I ought to.[/quote]
My picture above is the original tests.

@TikTokBitches oh Jesus, no hope then. Yet again I’ve isolated for four days for no reason - negative pcr came through this morning. What a joke.

[quote GrapefruitGin]@TikTokBitches oh Jesus, no hope then. Yet again I’ve isolated for four days for no reason - negative pcr came through this morning. What a joke.[/quote]
At this point I'm refusing to take tests before I go to crowded places. I'm triple jabbed and clearly the lfts don't work for me. I've taken tests with symptoms also and tested negative! But I have antibodies that say I have had covid .

I can't see the 2nd line on @ivehadenough1998's tests.

Worries me that I miss not see them on my own, but I do put them in good light and shone my phone torch through the back of them.

@ivehadenough1998

And another one

That’s negative To me....mine are always like that.....except when I did have Covid and it was a darker line