Confused by lat flow test

[bootdilemma21]

Sorry if this has been dealt with before - I've not had cause to read any such thread before. 4 of us in the family. 2 positive lat flows today. Both came up immediately. One negative (even though she is the sickest of us all) and one other negative, no symptoms.

The LFT on DD that is negative with no symptoms has thrown me. Two very clear lines came up very quickly as the liquid was absorbing but seconds later, one disappeared and we were left with just one line. What happened to the second line? It lasted no more than 30 seconds. Faulty? Evaporation line that then disappeared? Positive? Does anyone have any knowledge or experience that would explain this, please? Thanks

You should be doing PCR tests if you have symptoms. This is exactly why. LFT do not pick up all cases

This happened with my DD's LFT this morning – line appearing then fading immediately – even though we know she has Covid because she tested positive yesterday. What test did you use? She used a nose-only one first so we re-did it with a nose and throat one and the line came up. Might be worth re-doing.

I think it would be best if all of you get PCR tests done as you all have symptoms of various degrees.

OP says her Dd doesn't have any symptoms. Just do daily LFTs and see what happens.

I've never heard of a line appearing and disappearing tbh.

The Orient Gene lfts (I think that’s the name) do have this weird effect where it looks like there’s a line but there isn’t. I think it’s a strange effect of the liquid moving up somehow. The first time I did one I was a bit panicked but my DH who was looking at it from a different angle didn’t see it at all.

@Nevermindful

The Orient Gene lfts (I think that’s the name) do have this weird effect where it looks like there’s a line but there isn’t. I think it’s a strange effect of the liquid moving up somehow. The first time I did one I was a bit panicked but my DH who was looking at it from a different angle didn’t see it at all.

Ah that's interesting, yes it's orient Gene. And as PP said, she is asymptomatic. I could get her a PCR but it wouldn't arrive until tomorrow. I can't take her to a drive thru as I'm ill so would need to wait until the post delivered. So it doesn't really answer my actual question. Thank you so much to those of you who have helped.

Friends have said the same thing to me about Orient Gene. Mine definitely weren’t positive as I have Covid now, weeks later.

@Brunilde

You should be doing PCR tests if you have symptoms. This is exactly why. LFT do not pick up all cases

You're not supposed to do PCR's any more if an LFT is positive

Keep up!

@Nevermindful

Friends have said the same thing to me about Orient Gene. Mine definitely weren’t positive as I have Covid now, weeks later.

So strange. She had covid a few months ago. I know there's a high chance this is a different variant but it is possible it's the same one she had before and therefore she could still be carrying antibodies.

The one thing that's certain from this thread is how much lack of certainty there is around the current rules. I did get a PCR recently for a bad cough (it was negative, a few weeks ago before this bout of covid) and was hauled over the coals at work, told I shouldn't have done it if I had a negative LFT.

The OP suggests her family have symptoms. If that is the case you cannot use a LFT instead of a PCR. The scenario you describe is if an asymptomatic person tests positive on a LFT it no longer has to be confirmed by PCR. Keep up!

@bootdilemma21

Sorry if this has been dealt with before - I've not had cause to read any such thread before. 4 of us in the family. 2 positive lat flows today. Both came up immediately. One negative (even though she is the sickest of us all) and one other negative, no symptoms.

The LFT on DD that is negative with no symptoms has thrown me. Two very clear lines came up very quickly as the liquid was absorbing but seconds later, one disappeared and we were left with just one line. What happened to the second line? It lasted no more than 30 seconds. Faulty? Evaporation line that then disappeared? Positive? Does anyone have any knowledge or experience that would explain this, please? Thanks

Glad to know I’m not going mad as that happened to my son’s LFT last weekend. No symptoms and before school one, but I saw a distinct line very quickly that then vanished. It was a Flow one 🤔

@Brunilde

The OP suggests her family have symptoms. If that is the case you cannot use a LFT instead of a PCR. The scenario you describe is if an asymptomatic person tests positive on a LFT it no longer has to be confirmed by PCR. Keep up!

As I've said, she doesn't have any symptoms. The government website states PCRs are 'mainly' for people with symptoms, not people who have been in close contact with positive cases. It doesn't say they SHOULDN'T have one but it certainly doesn't say they should. It's suitably vague.

You've said a child with symptoms was negative so she should get a PCR

We had the same experience with the orient gene ones. The test line shows, but then moves up the test almost! Mine was pos and stayed pos yesterday, but DS3's looked like it was going to be pos but then did as you describe. His daily one did the same today too! Most disconcerting!

@dementedpixie

You've said a child with symptoms was negative so she should get a PCR

I was asking about the strange LFT and that child doesn't have symptoms. I didn't ask whether I need to get a PCR test for the child with symptoms... that's a separate issue and wasn't my question.

Do another lft on the child with the strange test then. The liquid travelling up the test can look like a line moving along it.

It's all further confused by the list of symptoms they give when you try and book a pcr. Common omicron ones (tickly/sore througt ) are not on there

@dementedpixie

Do another lft on the child with the strange test then. The liquid travelling up the test can look like a line moving along it.

Thanks @dementedpixie I've definitely noticed what you are talking about before. In this case, there were definitely two lines appeared just as the liquid neared the top, then one disappeared. I was just curious about it and it does seem like a 'thing' with some of these LFTs from what other PP are saying.

But just to put people's minds at rest, she isn't going to school anyway as I am isolating and can't take her - she's too little to go on her own. Plus DD who does have symptoms is going for a PCR tomorrow - I'm going to a drive through. I'm debating booking symptomless DD in but I'd have to lie on the booking form as they aren't for people who have no symptoms...

@drwitch

It's all further confused by the list of symptoms they give when you try and book a pcr. Common omicron ones (tickly/sore througt ) are not on there

Agreed! The DD with symptoms but a negative test doesn't have the symptoms listed. She has a raging headache, fatigue and vomiting. But given her friends have recently had it, my other children's classes have about 50% of their classmates off with it, and two of us in the family now have it, I think there's a high chance she has it too.

Our symptoms are as follows:
Ds has a headache, lethargy, runny nose, joint aches, he felt hot but no actual temp.
Me and dp both have sneezing, runny nose headache, lethargy.

No one has a cough, temp or change/loss of smell of taste. They really need to look at the symptoms they test for.

Dh tested positive with scratchy throat, runny nose and mild headache. He only did the LFT to prove he didn't have covid...but he did

@dementedpixie

Dh tested positive with scratchy throat, runny nose and mild headache. He only did the LFT to prove he didn't have covid...but he did

Yep, I've got a sore throat and a blocked nose and feeling shivery/unwell. None of us have coughs, temps or loss of taste or smell. Why on Earth are they persisting with those symptoms on the website? In the meantime, I've booked a PCR for symptomless DD. No doubt someone will be along to tell me I shouldn't have!

@Nevermindful

The Orient Gene lfts (I think that’s the name) do have this weird effect where it looks like there’s a line but there isn’t. I think it’s a strange effect of the liquid moving up somehow. The first time I did one I was a bit panicked but my DH who was looking at it from a different angle didn’t see it at all.

Exactly the same happened with me yesterday, I saw a line as the liquid was rising, but my daughter couldn’t see it from the other side. It vanished by the time the control line showed. Orient Gene.