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?

@soupforbrains

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.

As long as you haven't had a PCR within the past 90 days. My son tested positive today less than five weeks after the last (on a LFT).

@unluckyinlife

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.

Is this in England @unluckyinlife ?

I thought you could only officially get a PCR for the main three symptoms - fever, cough or loss of smell / taste - from early in the pandemic, so the Omicron's main symptoms of headache, runny nose, sneezing didn't count.

Why do people post when they dont understand the guidance themselves 🙈

@ForTheLoversOutThere

Why do people post when they dont understand the guidance themselves 🙈

Maybe if the guidance was clear on all the websites it would help!

Not sure If my 'reply' worked @user1471511336 but yes I'm in England.
Tested with a LFT and reported online. Contacted pretty quickly by track and trace who went through a long list of symptoms including those I understand are omicron. Stuff like sneezing, runny nose, feeling tired, headache, vomiting etc. As I said I was sneezing and went to bed last night feeling unusually tired I was asked to take a PCR. Tested around 130pm yesterday and had my results back last night.

Hope your feeling OK x