Constant positives on Lateral Flow

[ConcernedAuntie]

There have been a few threads on the subject of some people constantly testing positive with LFTs and negative on PCRs.

Some posters did say they were going to try get to the bottom of it.

I have tested positive on LFTs since August. I have written to my GP, Test and Trace, NHS England. No replies at all.

Has anyone had any sort of reply from the authorities about this issue and if so what was their response? Has anyone been given a reason why this happens?

Sorry if I have missed anything but it is really getting to me down.

What? That’s crazy! I never test positive even when everyone in my house does and I have the same symptoms!!

I wonder if your saliva is a special PH or something which may be affecting it.

@loloballlolo

I wonder if your saliva is a special PH or something which may be affecting it.

This is the sort of thing I want to know, but no one seems to have an answer.

I know that kids were putting fruit juice on tests to give a positive result so I am thinking it must be something like this but I need a definitive answer.

I never have had any symptoms and the last person I was in contact with who went on to have Covid was in October 2020.

So it's you that's spreading it op!! We need to lock you up! 😂😂

Test the salvia? Use a swab against the cheeks and under the tongue. The paper I read about this came from South African during the out break there. Will link if I can find it again. It showed that omicron was more in salvia than snot, which may be the reason that it sits in the back of the throat, studies have shown that people with omicron tested positive with nose & throat swab before a nasal (like me)
Will link that as well if I can find again. Or do a simple google.

Do you do the tests before you’ve eaten or drunk anything?

Before food or drink or 30 mins after. That's what I was told 🤷🏻‍♀️

I think the answer to this is to stop doing lateral flow unless you have symptoms.

@ConcernedAuntie do you test positive on a PCR too?

I'm the same, OP. I've posted about it on here before too. I'm still at a loss. I don't get constant positives but maybe one every few weeks or so. They're the faintest of faint lines (proper eye squinters) and there's never any colour to the 'positive' line, always the palest of grey.
Always subsequent negative PCRS. I do the tests correctly (been doing them since March last year for work) and don't eat or drink beforehand.
I wonder if I have some weird saliva or mutant genes or something. I've tried to stop worrying about these pale grey eye squinters now. If I were to see any colour in the test line, I'd isolate and get a pcr, but like you, I'm constantly getting them and I'm sick of the worry because of it.

I've never tested positive for covid btw, and no one in the house has tested positive either, so it's not the virus lingering in my body.
Here a picture of one of them.

@LadyPenelope68

Do you do the tests before you’ve eaten or drunk anything?

Yes. All tests carried out in accordance with instructions.

@drinkingwineoutofamug

Before food or drink or 30 mins after. That's what I was told 🤷🏻‍♀️

All tests carried out in accordance with instructions.

@loloballlolo

I think the answer to this is to stop doing lateral flow unless you have symptoms.

But then I don't know if I am spreading because I am asymptomatic. I have too many vulnerable family and friends to risk it.

This makes no sense! You are ALWAYS positive so how do you know when it's false or not?

[quote AgnesNaismith]@ConcernedAuntie do you test positive on a PCR too?[/quote]
No. 9 positive LFTs and 9 negative PCRs since August. Have never had a LFT that was negative. I am retired so only testing when I would have liked to have been indoors with family/friends. So many cancelled plans.

@Boofay

I'm the same, OP. I've posted about it on here before too. I'm still at a loss. I don't get constant positives but maybe one every few weeks or so. They're the faintest of faint lines (proper eye squinters) and there's never any colour to the 'positive' line, always the palest of grey. Always subsequent negative PCRS. I do the tests correctly (been doing them since March last year for work) and don't eat or drink beforehand. I wonder if I have some weird saliva or mutant genes or something. I've tried to stop worrying about these pale grey eye squinters now. If I were to see any colour in the test line, I'd isolate and get a pcr, but like you, I'm constantly getting them and I'm sick of the worry because of it.

I've never tested positive for covid btw, and no one in the house has tested positive either, so it's not the virus lingering in my body.
Here a picture of one of them.

Absolutely!

I get very very feint ones like @Boofay every so often on flowflex tests. When I did have covid it came up bright red as fast as the control line. To be honest I have stopped regular LFT testing because of it. I have a box left of the throat and nose ones that I have put aside for if I need to go to the doctors etc. I wish I could get more of those as I never had a problem with them.

This whole thing is going to come to a head for me shortly.

Rolled over a cruise which should have happened in 2020 to this year.

A neighbour went on a cruise over Christmas. He had to go for a PCR three days before departure which was clear. However, they were still doing LFTs on passengers before they boarded at Southampton and several people were refused boarding because of lines on LFTs (not him). I cannot cope with the stress of turning up at the port only to be turned back at the very last minute.

We have to pay the balance shortly and don't know what to do. I fully support testing but would hate to be denied boarding only to then get yet another negative PCR. Although, of course, no one knows what the rules will be by the end of May but we will soon have to pay the money.

Not had a holiday for 2 years and so need one.

What happens if you only nose-swab and not tonsils, @ConcernedAuntie?

@TheVolturi

This makes no sense! You are ALWAYS positive so how do you know when it's false or not?

I don't know until I have a PCR with is always negative. And now I can't even get those as I never have symptoms.

@TeaandHobnobs

What happens if you only nose-swab and not tonsils, *@ConcernedAuntie*?

First three were the throat and nose type, the others were nose only. LFT that is because PCRs are always throat and nose.

hi OP not sure if this is helpful
journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0250202

Low saliva pH can yield false positives results in simple RT-LAMP-based SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests

Maybe you need to work on getting your saliva PH up somehow? Not read the article but the headline implies low PH can affec it.

I get positive lft tests, have done since they came out really. Very faint line but still a line. I always confirm with PCR and have always come back negative. Don't eat or drink before taking them, tried in the morning afternoon evening it doesn't matter. My husband and daughter take them and get negatives so I sometimes have to go off their results. I was pregnant and had my baby in April 21 so don't know if something hormonal is causing it? Love to know as it drives me mad going for pcrs all the time!

This has been happening to me too, for weeks. Different batches of tests, all done according to instructions and nobody in the house testing positive. 2 recent PCRs were negative but I'm totally healthy with no symptoms.

My doctor advised me to self isolate last time but I can't keep doing that!

DH says I'm patient zero. 😬

@loloballlolo

hi OP not sure if this is helpful journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0250202

Low saliva pH can yield false positives results in simple RT-LAMP-based SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests

Maybe you need to work on getting your saliva PH up somehow? Not read the article but the headline implies low PH can affec it.

@loloballlolo Many thanks for taking the time to post this.

I have tried reading the report but not being the sharpest knife in the box I can't understand it. (Got thrown out of chemistry at school!)

Are you able to explain in laymans terms what low saliva PH means and how can I get it up?

For my last test I stopped eating fruit for three days beforehand because I wondered if high acid from all the fruit I eat was causing it. Made no difference.