Passing PCR test

[Esspee]

In just over 24 hours I have to take a PCR test to be able to visit family abroad. I am triple vaxed. Once there I will be isolating for a week before visiting the elderly and vulnerable family members.
It is extremely important to me to be able to travel so I have been isolating as much as possible for the last two weeks refusing all social invitations.
Does anybody know of any way to increase my chances of testing negative? I have heard of people trying to test positive by drinking orange juice before the swab is taken.

Have you heard of any way to maximise chances of testing negative?

Not having covid generally does the trick

Dont eat or drink 30 minutes before.

(I'm presuming you mean avoiding a false positive not cheating!)

Not having covid generally does the trick

This.

You can't cheat a PCR test. If you have viral genetic material present, the likelihood is that it will be detected. Surely if you do have COVID you'd rather not travel and pass it on to vulnerable people?

@DickMabutt73962

Not having covid generally does the trick

It's the only way

You're doing the right thing by isolating as much as possible.

As others have said, don't eat or drink before you take the test to make sure no contaminants get in. Same goes for cleaning the surface and washing your hands before you unpack the test.

This is a laboratory test, completely out of my control so I can't cheat but what if something I do gives a false positive such as brushing my teeth or having breakfast before? It is at 9am so I can skip breakfast but would that help or harm my chances of testing negative?
I have to test to get into the country I'm travelling to but for the return to this country there are no tests needed. So on the flight going out there is a very low chance of people being positive and on the way back everyone could be arriving at Heathrow with covid.
Because of the ludicrous nature of these rules frankly if I knew something like a mouthwash would ensure I tested negative I'd do it.

So you want tips on tricking a potentially false negative so you can get on a plane full of strangers and go and see a vulnerable relative? Your isolation is 7 days so could easily be within the contagious period.

I could understand asking for tips to not trigger a false positive (I'd avoid drinking fruit shoots) but the other way seems quite irresponsible towards your relative

I will be testing while there. If I had any trace of doubt I could put off visiting the older generation as I am away for four weeks. It is two years since I saw any of them and I stand to lose a huge amount of money if I can't travel which would mean it could be a long time before I can ever go there again.
I have self contained accommodation so can isolate once at my destination. I will be masked until I get there.

It is at 9am so I can skip breakfast but would that help or harm my chances of testing negative?

Neither

Such an irresponsible thread.

Lateral flows can show a faint positive if you have something acidic to drink before hand. Even a Pepsi max (trialed and tested). PCRs won’t though. They actually detect viral genetic material. A chance of a false positive on a pcr is very low.

I assume you are trying to avoid a false positive.

With a pcr the risk of false positives is minimal. It's not very high with an lft but even smaller with a pcr.

Just avid any acidic type drinks, and follow the testing rules fully - blow nose, ensure everything is clean, don't eat/drink for half an hour before. I know some TikTok videos showed people trying to trick LFTs into false positives (teens avoiding school in the couple I saw) so avoid that kind of drink/food.

But if you are really positive, then you're positive and can't go. It's that simple.

Vaping can cause false positives on lfts.

Thank you everyone. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.🤞🏽

@gugh

Vaping can cause false positives on lfts.

It's a PCR