Just read you should be doing nose AND throat LFT swabs with Omicron

[RedPandaWanda]

Just seen online that as Omicron is acting different to Delta and starts in the throat rather than the nose we should be going back to swabbing the throat AND nose as it’s more likely not to show initially if you do nose only.
We (kids and I) really struggled with swabbing our throats so we’re really pleased when the nose-only tests came out. Can you swab the tonsils with the nose-only kits as they are the only ones we now have at home?
Has anyone else read this?
I’ve had a raspy throat for the last few days but my LFT’s (one yesterday and one today) from the nose have come back negative but now I’m wondering if I could have it.
Maybe I need to do a PCR?

Where I live they’ve only ever been nose swabs. I’ve never swabbed my throat for an LFT. I’ve also never seen this ‘news’ anywhere but on Mumsnet.

But you have symptoms, so why are you testing with LFTs? Are people still unaware that symptoms = PCR? Not just the main 3, as the useless UK guidance states…

If you have symptoms you need to do a pcr.

But yes you should swab throat and nose with the lfts. There’s been a lot in the media saying that it gives a more reliable result.

Nah. We have covid in the house and are getting strong positive results on orient gene tests. The older nose and throat ones are still showing negative. Just do the test as intended.

Yes you are right - there has been a lot about this in the last week that it is a good idea to do throat and nose.

I thought you have always had to do both.

My dh got a positive on the orient gene test that uses nose only. He was also posituve on PCR

Yes I’ve read this too which is a pain as the new LFTs have a tiny stick for nasal swabbing only.

@Bouncer500

I thought you have always had to do both.

Not with the nose only tests- orient gene and flowflex

Interesting. I have a sore throat , headache and feel tired. Also sinus pain . I did a LFT and it came back negative.

I thought they all had to be both

@cloudtree

I thought they all had to be both

Maybe you need to read the instructions if you have flowflex or orient gene tests then!

Doesn’t it just depend what type of LFT you get? The first ones I had said do both, more recently ones say just nose so I’m just following the instructions.

We’ve only had the Flowflex tests for months, it’s all dc school send them back with, no mention of throat swabbing on the instructions at all.
I will get a PCR tomorrow.

Depends on the test. Follow the instructions.

@LookslovelyinSpringtime

Interesting. I have a sore throat , headache and feel tired. Also sinus pain . I did a LFT and it came back negative.

What’s interesting is that you’re doing LFTs with symptoms. LFTs are for the asymptomatic. With symptoms, you need a PCR.

Just try it with a throat swab as well as the nose then. It's a bit fiddly with the shorter swab but no harm in trying

I do regularly suffer from on/off from a raspy throat especially in the winter and I have allergies so it’s not a new symptom for me but you never can tell these days so will definitely get a test.

@BHX3000 the symptoms OP has is not the symptoms that prompt a PCR test. I'd try an LFT first too

My dh had scratchy throat and runny nose when he got his positive LFT

Are people really doing a PCR every time they get a headache? And isolating until the results come? I'd never be in work if that was the case!

[quote dementedpixie]@BHX3000 the symptoms OP has is not the symptoms that prompt a PCR test. I'd try an LFT first too[/quote]
Exactly.

fluffythefragonslayer this is the problem. Take my symptoms yes they may be a symptom of omicron but I do get a scratchy/raspy throat often , have done for years, so do I take a PCR every time it reoccurs? I don’t get paid sick leave and I have no one to cover me if I’m off work so I’m stuffed every time I have the sniffles or a sore throat!

@fluffythedragonslayer

Are people really doing a PCR every time they get a headache? And isolating until the results come? I'd never be in work if that was the case!

It is a nightmare. My dh had a headache - really bad one but just a headache- this weekend and as he is a healthcare worker he does lfts regularly anyway and lo and behold- strong positive. So now he’s isolating in our spare room having sent his pcr off and has lost a weeks pay. I doubt many people would even know they had covid in our situation.

3 of us in our house tested positive on 31st December. We were doing lfts following close contact with an extended family member. We all had sore throats and I had read on here about doing throat as well, so I did throat and nose. DH misunderstood and did throat only, and DD did nose only and we all tested positive on lfts and then confirmed with pcrs next day. Our symptoms got worse throughout the day and by the evening all had more cold symptoms.
We have used flow flex and orient gene and both say to do nose only and the cotton bud is much shorter (but I used it anyway)

I've just come out of isolation with what I presume was Omicron. Positive nasal lat flow (routine for work) after a few sneezes. Main symptoms continued to be sneezing and nasal congestion so I would assume my nose had a nice high viral load. Same with DH. He did develop a cough after about a week though.