If you’ve still got a positive LFT on day 10…

[sheeplikessleep]

Does this mean you’re still infectious?

I know we are allowed to end isolation then (end of day 10), but could I still be infectious?

UK health services authority say 5% still infectious at day 10 and I wondered if this relates to LFT result, which I can’t find.

Thanks

Actually I’ve just found it, it’s 5% of those testing positive on day 10 are infectious.

I know I certainly didn't feel comfortable going near my parents until I tested negative again regardless of the rules

It’s always been known that if you are seeing anyone vulnerable to wait a couple more days after the 10 days.

@Mindymomo

It’s always been known that if you are seeing anyone vulnerable to wait a couple more days after the 10 days.

Not actually explicitly stated in test and trace rules though was it? People were told to stay away from anyone vulnerable for a few days if they were ending isolation early due to negative day 6/7 or I guess now 5/6 tests, but after day 10 told could carry on as normal regardless.

It means you probably have a high viral load but the virus it is picking up is dead so you’re not infectious. Lots of studies have shown it is very rare to still be infectious after day 9. The 5 day rule is good as it will pick up the few cases of people who most likely safe to go out rather than isolating needlessly. But you’re definitely okay after day 10 though regardless of a positive lft.

@Crackingowlsanctuary do you have a link to that? I’m not going to see my parents or Gran until it’s negative, but just wondered if I’m still infectious at all. Whitty said last month ‘keep testing until you’re negative’ and backtracked on that didn’t he? I’m someone who urrs on the side of caution anyway. Thanks all for posting.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33521734/

“No study detected live virus beyond day 9 of illness, despite persistently high viral loads, which were inferred from cycle threshold values.”

My colleague continued to test positive on LFTs for a month after covid! (She was allowed back into work by PHE) I think they are just like that with some people.

Thankyou @Crackingowlsanctuary 👍

Wowser @Fluffyowl00 a month blimey

I know people who have had a line for days or weeks after the 10 day mark. It's really bizarre as we can leave isolation early if we have negative tests yet many will have a line for ages after...

I'm wondering this too. On the one hand they say that LFT is a good indicator of being infectious. On the other hand they say to stop doing them after day 10 and isolation ends regardless.

All 3 of my kids tested positive Tues last week. Eldest had negative LFTs from day 5 (faint positive on day 4), and went back to school on day 7. I suspect she was actually a couple of days ahead of the other two (and then passed it to the rest of us) as she felt a bit off on the Sunday (but tested negative, maybe a false result).

Younger two are now on day 9, and have been generating weak positive LFT results for the last 4 days. By weak I mean that the line is barely there, almost not visible, so faint that you start to think your eyes might be playing tricks on you. But they are definitely v.v. faint positive results. I'd be surprised if tomorrow they get negative LFT results. They've both had mild cases - one no symptoms at all, the other a bit of a cough.

So are they still infectious or not? Interesting that NHS guidance on leaving self isolation early after negative LFTs (day 6 to day 10), says that you should continue to be careful, social distance, avoid crowded locations and wear a mask where ever possible. But after 10 days you're definitely ok to go back to normal, even if your LTF's are still positive??

Have you read the link above from @Crackingowlsanctuary? It states that any virus being picked up after 9 days was dead (across different studies). So it can show up on LFT but won’t be live virus.

@Crackingowlsanctuary

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33521734/

“No study detected live virus beyond day 9 of illness, despite persistently high viral loads, which were inferred from cycle threshold values.”

I think cycle threshold is a term relating to PCR testing, not relevant to LFD tests, which are completely different. PCR tests detect actual presence of the viral DNA, which can longer for months (hence why they say not to get a PCR test within 90 days of a previous infection).

LFD tests are picking up antibodies in your system that are fighting the infection. So a positive lft suggests there is still an active infection. It may be that a weak line on the test is indicating a low viral load and therefore low infectiousness potential.

@Crackingowlsanctuary

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33521734/

“No study detected live virus beyond day 9 of illness, despite persistently high viral loads, which were inferred from cycle threshold values.”

That's really good to know! I'm on day 9 and still have a very strong positive so was worried!

So does that mean @cool4cats2020 that you could still be infectious if you are still fighting the infection?

@sheeplikessleep

So does that mean *@cool4cats2020* that you could still be infectious if you are still fighting the infection?

I'm not sure, quite possibly. I've also heard about some Omicron specific research that claimed most people have peak infectiousness between days 3 and 6 after onset of symptoms, which is later previous variants.