Teen with symptoms but negative LFT, could it become positive?

[Embark]

Or is that a silly question? My teen (one vaccine so far, booster soon) today has a temperature and saying they ache all over. Paracetamol not doing much, only alternating with nurofen is helping. Last temp was 38.9. LFT this evening is negative. Can I presume it won’t ‘become’ covid or could it be possible to test negative and say tomorrow test positive or is he likely safe from covid does anyone know? He is obviously at home and not school.

I think that yes, it could become positive. My DS had a very faint positive lft that became a definite positive the next day.
But equally it could just be a cold or some other flu type virus

I started feeling ill on Saturday, although not with one of the big three symptoms. LFTs were negative on Saturday night, Sunday night, Monday afternoon. It turned positive this evening.

I'm double vacc and boosted.

DH has had symptoms since Saturday and is still testing negative on LFT. He tested positive from a PCR on Monday morning. LFTs after the PCR still showed negative. I’ve been positive since Sunday on LFT hence booking his PCR.

Was the lft just a nose swab? If so repeat but place swab in mouth and cough before doing nose. A few friends have tested negative on nose swab lfts but when they did throat & nose it was positive.
Or with those symptoms I’d definitely consider getting a pcr.

Yes it's definitely possible to show symptoms before testing positive on a lateral flow test. He should get a PCR done if showing symptoms. Unfortunately I wouldn't rule out covid yet.

Oh no. We have lasted all this time without covid. Could really do without it. They are asthmatic too …do I have to test them every day?? I will keep them off school tomorrow and all the while they aren’t feeling well obviously but not sure what to do with the rest of the household… I’m a single parent and can’t afford to get ill!

They need a PCR.

With symptoms you need a pcr test not relying on lfts.

If he has symptoms he needs to isolate and get a PCR, not a LFT. LFT’s should only be used in those without symptoms.

I had symptoms of a sore throat Friday before bed.

Mild cold and negative sat am.

Felt awful sat evening and overnight.

Surprising negative 8am Sunday am. (I knew at that point a close contact tested positive Saturday)

5.30pm Sunday was a not so surprising very clear bright red positive. I was feeling a little better by then!

Mine changed from negative to positove in the space of 3 hours last week.
Was feeling awful all day as had been a close contact so did an LFT at 8pm which was negative.
Struggled to sleep at all, finally got off to sleep but woke up again at 11pm feeling terrible. Tested again and it was a strong positive.

They have SN and I don’t think I’m going to be able to get them into the car to be tested but equally can I reliably do a PCR at home? I haven’t ever done one…

He needs a PCR.
LFTs are for people without symptoms

I'm currently positive with symptoms. Negative LFT on Monday but booked PCR as I was coughing slightly and coldy/achy. Came back positive within hours.
LFT's are for those who have no symptoms. If he has symptoms he needs a PCR.

It's the same as doing an LFT. Order a postal test.

Ok I’ll first try to get a postal one. I work from home anyway so won’t be going anywhere

@Embark

They have SN and I don’t think I’m going to be able to get them into the car to be tested but equally can I reliably do a PCR at home? I haven’t ever done one…

The parent does the test at the drive through test centres, same as at home so it would be the same. But if you’re more comfortable doing them at home then order one ASAP as the longer you leave it the less accurate the result will be

I have a teen who has a bad cold, lft and pcr all show negative. There are other sicknesses than covid.

Yes this is exactly what happened with me. I had those symptoms, but test came back negative. Did it again a few days later and it was positive.

Might not be covid but if if it is, it might be just too soon for lft to pick up. Many people have reported taking a few days to test positive on lft. Some people were positive before symptoms started.

Symptoms = you need pcr. You can't rely on a negative lft - be ideal if you could!

I've just seen they have sen. I know that makes it incredibly harder but you can order a home test, we found that much easier then drive through tests with Ds - who also has sen.

Hope he feels better soon.

Ds tested positive over 3 days after symptoms started. I was getting really frustrated- as we needed evidence for school and to notify a vulnerable close contact. A friend suggested getting some proper phlegm or spit from him and apply directly to lft the result showed negative on day 4 so I then tried phlegm on it and it turned positive straight away. It saved trying to get him out to pcr as he was too I'll. he tested positive the normal way the next day and for the 6 days since,

I felt rubbish (sniffing, headache, sore throat etc.) and had negative PCR. LFT every day afterwards, all negative. Talking to a friend, she warned that it’s about 5 days average for a LFT to turn positive. On the fifth day: positive LFT.

Definitely. My Ds was sent home from school, temp etc. he did a test. Was negative.
He went straight to bed as he was unwell, when he woke up 3 hours later he did a test and was positive

I still have to do it a drive through place?? I thought they did it? If I order a home one it won’t come before Thursday will it? Then won’t have results until I’m guessing Friday? If I go to the centre results Thursday?

At a drive thru, you do the test

I know it can be scary. Our whole hold had it 12 months ago. Just 1 out of the 4 of us had it 2 weeks ago. A positive doesn't mean you will all be bed bound (I'm a single parent to 3 with 1 with additional needs). I hope your dc is better quickly x