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Original poster

Catching covid again

15 replies

sheeplikessleep · 23/01/2022 16:14

Anyone know what the chances are of an LFT picking up original infection at 98 days versus it being a new infection?

I keep seeing 90 days bandied about … it feels on the cusp to me, but there has to be a reason for that cut off.

Thanks

OP posts:
scaredsadandstuck · 23/01/2022 16:16

Almost zero I'd have thought - especially if you've had negative LFTs in the meantime. Sorry 😕

MerryPoppings · 23/01/2022 16:21

My DC had covid twice 6/7 weeks apart and I know of many others who've experienced similar. I don't think the 90 days is anything other than a government guess.

Original poster
sheeplikessleep · 23/01/2022 16:23

It’s DS1.

Things making me think it’s original …
He’s taken LFT yesterday and today and both negative (he had 1 x positive LFT Friday)
No symptoms (he had a v minor cough Thursday)

But things making me think it’s new …
I took him for PCR yesterday (I know I shouldn’t have, but his second negative LFT made me question it and if PCR negative, then I could have shown the school) and his PcR came back positive
He’s been getting negative LfTs since October

It looks like a new infection on balance doesn’t it? I’m amazed he’s caught again so quickly, though Omicron wasn’t around in October

OP posts:
Original poster
sheeplikessleep · 23/01/2022 16:24

@MerryPoppings

My DC had covid twice 6/7 weeks apart and I know of many others who've experienced similar. I don't think the 90 days is anything other than a government guess.
6/7 weeks is nothing is it cripes 😮
OP posts:
Original poster
sheeplikessleep · 23/01/2022 16:26

A friend who works for NHS made me question it, saying he shouldn’t have tested again so quickly because of the 90 day rule …

OP posts:
Whyarewehardofthinking · 23/01/2022 16:29

It will be a new infection; an LFT would not pick up an infection from over 90 days at all. My DD has just tested positive for the 3rd time, negative LFTs between.

scaredsadandstuck · 23/01/2022 16:31

I would say that is a new infection, sorry. Especially with lots of negative LFTs in between times. Very random for it to suddenly go back to being positive. I could see if it had been faintly positive ever since he had is first time, but otherwise it seems likely it's a second infection.

Original poster
sheeplikessleep · 23/01/2022 16:34

@Whyarewehardofthinking

It will be a new infection; an LFT would not pick up an infection from over 90 days at all. My DD has just tested positive for the 3rd time, negative LFTs between.
3 times 😮, how long between each?

I guess when isolation ends in March, it’ll just be treated like a cold each time. But it just feels so inconvenient doesn’t it to keep being off school.

The fact he’s only had 1 positive LFT, I’m hoping he’ll keep getting his negatives and be out Wednesday on day 6. I’m surprised he’s only had one positive LFT (plus the positive PCR).

OP posts:
Fullofpudding · 23/01/2022 16:34

I'd say new infection. Got a few kids now with it for the 3rd time. Some had it just before Christmas and now have it again.

Original poster
sheeplikessleep · 23/01/2022 16:35

Thanks all for posting 👍

OP posts:
Original poster
sheeplikessleep · 23/01/2022 16:36

@Fullofpudding

I'd say new infection. Got a few kids now with it for the 3rd time. Some had it just before Christmas and now have it again.
But why do we get told not to test again in 90 days? I guess it’s the caveat of ‘unless new symptoms’ but a lot will assume it’s the old infection based on that guidance of ‘don’t test in 90 days’.
OP posts:
Whyarewehardofthinking · 23/01/2022 20:45

@sheeplikessleep

6 months between 1 and 2 (and a vaccination), 11 weeks and a further vaccination between 2 and 3. It is rife at her 6th form plus both DP and I are teachers; we all had it in Feb then DP and I had it again separately and she caught it after the pair of us.

Rainbowsandstorms · 23/01/2022 21:15

I’d say new infection my DD has it again for the second time with five weeks in between and lots of negative lfts. She was the last of our family to test positive.

GypsyWanderer · 25/01/2022 20:46

DS14 had covid in October and then again 3 weeks ago and now one of his brothers has tested positive and he had covid not even 6 weeks ago. I’m sure it’s a new infection because 1) 3 of his friends have got covid and 2) I tested him a few days before because his friends were positive and his tests were negative then this morning dark positive so reinfection absolutely possible! Whereas me and DH are yet to have it.

altmember · 25/01/2022 21:54

The don't test for 90 days guidance is for PCRs, pretty sure it doesn't apply to LFD tests. Highly unlikely an LFD test will be showing positive from a previous infection that long ago - it would mean you've stayed infectious and spreading covid the whole time.

But PCR tests are so much more sensitive, they can carry on detecting remnants of the previous infection for that long.

Omicron is substantially different to previous variants, so having had any others previously gives you almost no protection from catching Omicron. Lots of people are catching it soon after having delta unfortunately.

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