Pcr

[dazzlerdo]

Me, DP and 2 DCs (1.5 and 2.5 years) all have the same symptoms. DP tested positive on lateral flow and me and DCs all tested negative. Should me and DCs go for a pcr cos we have symptoms?

Yes, strictly speaking if you have symptoms you'd go straight for a PCR and not do a LFT at all.

Yes, you are correct negative LFT but have symptoms you should get a PCR test. It’s quite possible you may test positive on LFT in a day or two, but you will need to do daily LFT for 7 days as close contact, so you will know one way or another.

In your shoes I would just assume you all have it tbh and not bother with the pcr unless you need one to prove to your work that you have it.

Yes you should go for a PCR test, as you have symptoms.

The government have made the latest guidance on testing as clear as mud.

What symptoms do you have ?

@everythingthelighttouches except they haven't because many are not having the 3 symptoms they say to test for , unless they have updated it which i haven't seen at all
My son has covid now his symptoms were a headache and slight sore throat so didn't meet the need for pcr or the fact he had cases at work again no pcr , just LFT for 7 days
I lied and took him for a pcr in the end and noone was there we had result back in 7 hrs

worriedatthemoment

I know. I was in a similar position as your son and am isolating right now.

Assuming the OP means the three (out of date) symptoms listed by the government, she should go for a PCR.

It’s not the guidance right now, but with other members of the household testing positive by LFT, even without the three symptoms listed, but some symptoms (headache, cold) I would go for a PCR. It’s just much more likely to be covid if household member has it.

worriedatthemoment is your son positive on LFT yet?

@everythingthelighttouches he tested positive on lft yesterday really faint line could just about see but it was an ild test as we had run out and after realised nose only one though he did throat as well .
I took him for a pcr as we had no other lft as waiting delivery and we were not sure if the lft we had was from same batch( liquid and test strip)
So thought we wold test with a pcr and came back positive
I have woke today with slight runny nose and my lft is negative but if i feel same tomorrow ( im going no where today ) i will go for a pcr regardless and not just rely on the lft as i need to go out monday
I might get him to do LFt today to see if it picks up just to see maybe its a concidence

DPs symptoms are mild cold symptoms. Cough, achy, blocked nose, headache and now loss of smell. Mine are cold symptoms with a banging headache, slight cough but no loss of smell. The little ones have runny nose and cough.

We've all been for a pcr this morning. I can't just isolate I would need a positive test for work

You have the symptoms to pcr anyway
My sons only ones are headache and slight sore throat and he tested positive we had the pcr result back in 7 hrs as well , quickest ever

@worriedatthemoment gosh that's really quick! Last time I had to have one I didn't get my results for 3 days. Got a feeling it will be the same this time. My sister got hers back the following day, hopefully it will be the same for us.

Went for a pcr myself today as not ill but just didn't feel totally right and had result back again super quick and I am positive ( negative on lft today ) dh still negative at the moment

@worriedatthemoment I got my results back today at 7.50am me and DP both positive and DCs both negative. I did another lateral flow this morning before results came back and that was negative. Did another about an hour ago, just to see and now positive

Strange isn't it i am going to do a lft tomorrow and see
Thinking about this week i actually had a real bd headache weds bit it did cleat with ibuprofen and i really struggled to get up for work weds/ thurs but was fine Friday so I wonder if was the start of it or just a coincidence , im taking today as first day though to be on safe side

@worriedatthemoment I've been the same! Waking up Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with a banging headache. Like you took ibuprofen and took it off, except Friday l did feel a little bit worse but carried on.
Today DP said he feels shocking, it's just hit him all of a sudden. So I'm thinking tomorrow I will be the same. Hope not!!

Im confused by this cut to 5 days isolation as its not 5 days if i am reading it right its test day 5 ( but today is day zero so more like day 6) so fri for me and of negative and then negative on sat i can go out , is that right ? And my ds they have taken his first day back to weds , so he could test tomorrow and tues and if both clear go out tues ?

@worriedatthemoment yes that sounds right. It's five FULL days of isolation, so the day after you test positive/get symptoms is your 1st full day.

In my experience, very few people are negative on day 5, not unless they actually had covid earlier than their recognised day zero. And depending which brand of LFD tests you're using, some seem to show faint positives after others have indicated a negative result.

Also, I had a headache for about a week before I finally tested positive for covid (all my kids already had it), and I'd taken daily LFD tests and a PCR over that week, all negative. According to the Zoe symptom tracking study, headache is the most common symptom.

@altmember yes i had a headache on weds but didn't think of iit really as it went , ds18 had headache weds most of the day and very slight sore throat also negative LFT and felt better thurs so went to work but when he came home said he wAs tired but ok, then fri morning he had very faint LFT
Im assuming i caught of ds but then again maybe my headache was start of symptoms?
My ds has been doing LFT daily for couple weeks though due to cases at work
I really wish they would update, luckily although ds went to work he was pretty much on his own as rest off with covid or just back from having it and I'm WFH so haven't seen anyone since Monday either so at least we haven't spread it. I think headache weds was just coincidence as I had bad nights sleep and woke up with a headache but it went straight away with one painkiller.

And i was fine after and thurs and fri but sat woke up feeling just not quite right and slight runny nose which went and sun felt same but just fuzzy head but again not quite right either, both days negative Lft but positive pcr on sun, im going to do a LFT today to see if shows now as i think i have picked up early so waiting to see .
But i know of some that never show positive on a LFT .ds can also do a lft today to see if he is now negative so be interesting to see what that says