Is a PCR necessary or will the LFT result suffice?

[user1471511336]

Please can someone link the official guidance of what to do in this situation? The regulations keep changing and I'm rather confused. I get LFTs to pick up asymptomatic cases and PCRs are if you have symptoms, and now positive LFTs without symptoms don't need a confirmatory PCR so you can start isolation on the day of the LFT and end when you've had two negatives, usually day 5. But what about this scenario being faced by a colleague?

Routine LFT is positive so start isolation, a day or two later they get symptoms and start to feel unwell. Obviously they won't be back at work until they feel well enough and have the two negative LFTs, but do they need a PCR as they now have symptoms? My logic says a PCR isn't necessary, but I doubt they will be back in five days as they are unwell so we need to make arrangements to cover them. They think they need a PCR and the isolation period day zero won't be until that test is back, but another colleague expects them back at work by the middle of next week as that's five days from the positive LFT!

So my question is - do they need a PCR?

The isolation period restarts from the onset of symptoms. As long as they do that then a pcr is unnecessary.

@3teens2cats

The isolation period restarts from the onset of symptoms. As long as they do that then a pcr is unnecessary.

Errr, no it doesn't. It starts from the positive test.

No PCR needed with positive LFT atm. This must be driving the reported drop in cases as it's much harder to record a positive yourself than the automatic PCR which feeds directly into the figures.

Everyone Ionia avoiding PCR -just doing LFT and informing contacts. Do not let the NHS clunky machine access to your contacts!

It's definitely the start of symptoms not the test date @monkeyblonde

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/how-long-to-self-isolate/

I know someone whose PCR test result took so long to come back they were testing negative on their LFT on days 6&7 before they got it. They isolated from the LFT positive test.

@jimmyreckon

It's definitely the start of symptoms not the test date *@monkeyblonde*

So what happens if you are asymptomatic then?

Paragraph 5.1 - no PCR required

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

Reading the advice

LTF - positive isolate until test negative or 10 days max and no fever
LTF - negative with symptoms - PCR

If isolating as close contact - isolation restarts on day you have symptoms - or positive LFT - negative get PCR test

That's exactly what I'd been unsuccessfully searching for @MaizeAmaze - thank you.

Op don't be so sure of the usually on day 5 I was still positive for 15 days after my test/symptoms and neither dc tested negative before their isolation finished. I would prepare for them to be off for the full ten days and tenner you start from 0 not 1 (from the day symptoms appeared as per the link Jimmy posted)

@WreckTangled

Op don't be so sure of the usually on day 5 I was still positive for 15 days after my test/symptoms and neither dc tested negative before their isolation finished. I would prepare for them to be off for the full ten days and tenner you start from 0 not 1 (from the day symptoms appeared as per the link Jimmy posted)

I was primarily responding to @3teens2cats who said that the isolation period restarts if you develop symptoms after a positive test - that is incorrect.

The link Jimmy posted states if you have a positive test you start isolating, which we all know, and that if you then go on to develop symptoms your ten days restarts. I didn't know this but that's what it says?

I have just checked and I stand corrected. The guidance has changed and you don't need to re-start isolation any more

It isn't incorrect @monkeyblonde. The guidance says if you're isolating and then get symptoms then the isolation period restarts from the symptom date

Interestingly, that NHS link seems to conflict with the gov.uk one. It mentions isolation restarting if you get symptoms - I believed that was only for people isolating for close contact. Someone else has mentioned the 10 days isnt right on the NHS link.
Not surprising the general public are confused if 2 reputable sources give conflicting info!!!

Oops @monkeyblonde, they have changed the guidance then (surprise surprise!) As it used to say you did need to restart isolation

@dementedpixie

Oops *@monkeyblonde*, they have changed the guidance then (surprise surprise!) As it used to say you did need to restart isolation

It still does on the nhs website so confusing!

Although it depends which link you look at as nhs and the .gov site differ in their info. How confusing

@wrecktangled
Honestly, you couldn't make it up - gov guidance says one thing and NHS says another!

No they don't need a pcr unless they are cev or work in health / social care. According to the info when we tested last week.

Jeeeeez this thread shows how ridiculous the whole thing is! This is a collection of intelligent women and the advice is so complicated and so conflicting that noone can figure it out.

I discovered today that the isolation period in England and Scotland is technically the same but because England starts on day 0 and Scotland on day 1 and release starts day of second test in Scotland but day after in England it sounds like 7 days vs 5 days. Its bonkers and I hate every wanker that thought that was appropriate.

I had symptoms 5 days before my positive test. DD tested positive so was doing daily LFTs. Did a PCR too since I wasn't feeling well. Still nothing. Positive today.

Haven't registered any of our positive LFTs because it seems even Track and Trace have lost track of the correct rules and are misadvising. Don't have the energy to listen to that! So now I'm part of the under reporting which annoys me on principal because data is everything.

Fecking useless government!!!

I tested positive on a LFT today.

Test and Trace advised I needed a PCR as I was sneezing and that is a symptom? For research purposes.

I was told my isolation ends in 11 days. Today is day 0.
However I can do a LFT on day 6 and day 7 and if both negative can stop isolating.

Test and Trace said 5 days of isolation starts from Monday and is not current legislation.

I cannot verify the above just advising what T and T stated this morning.

You don’t need to do a PCR test but it is helpful to the ‘fight’ against covid as PCR tests enable the nhs and other scientists to identify the strain, and enables them to track the spread and growth/decline of one strain vs another etc.

It’s not a required action, neither the government nor the nhs demand you do it, but it’s very helpful if you do. And since it’s free and you can get them sent to your home it’s no hardship to do it.