LFT test - 15 minutes for positive?... more like 15 seconds!

[treeflowercat]

I know the guidance is to wait for 15 minutes, but in practice my experience is that you know in more like 15 seconds (or less!) when it's positive! I realise there may be a few weakly positive results that may take longer to show, and the Government would want a timeframe that covered all results, but in reality, has anyone needed to wait 15 minutes, or even close to that, to see a positive result?

The first time I tested positive, the positive line on the LFT appeared within 20 seconds. The second time I tested positive (using the new, nostril only tests) the positive line didn’t appear until 15 minutes in.

Just to clarify - when I first tested positive for Covid I was using the old style, throat AND nasal tests.

My daughters was pretty instant.

My DS has a very faint line. I had declared it negative, put it on the side and when it dried properly there was a very faint line. His PCR test next was positive.

It will depend on how much viral load you have that day and how well you take the test.

Episode 2 of the Christmas lectures with JVT on iplayer explains how LFTs work. It’s really interesting.

I think I prefer the older style tests where it was throat AND nose, but I suppose it’s just what you’re used to!

@Satsumay we've been binning at 15 mins on those tests at work.

@InTheLabyrinth

Yep, they do develop. Been watching 100s today. While most are there early on, about a quarter take their time.

Did u have a lot of positives?

My Ds's was instantaneous

Mine took about five minutes for a faint control line to come up once all ink had cleared and I was positive confirmed by pcr (and very strong lateral flows day 6 and 7)