Two positive LFT’s this morning. How likely are they to be wrong?

[HufflepuffPride]

I test twice a week as standard because I work in a school. I did an extra test on Thursday this week because I had a migraine and that was negative. Felt fine after I’d slept it off, this morning I got up and felt sniffly and a bit congested, which isn’t unusual for me as I have sinus problems and allergies and they always get worse as the weather gets milder. Did my Sunday test as usual and was shocked to get a glowing positive after about 8 minutes. Did another to be sure, and another glowing positive in slightly less time! These are the newer nasal only tests as I can’t get the old throat swabs. I’ve just been for my PCR and am now waiting for the results, but am just wondering how likely they are to be false positives? (I know in my head I have I BTW).

I can’t believe it! Two fucking years and I’ve not got it, I’ve had people breathe all over me who subsequently tested positive, I’ve shared cars with people who’ve tetsted positive I even survived the run up to Christmas when everyone at work and most of the kids dropped like flies. But it looks like it’s finally bloody got me!

Oh and can you show us the official guidance that says "If you have symptoms you still need a PCR."

A positive LFT is almost never wrong. A negative LFT may or may not be accurate.

Sorry, OP. I hope you don't feel too unwell with it.

Yep, you have common current Covid symptoms. A lot of people I know have this at the moment and no one has lost their taste and smell whereas last time round lots of people did. Doesn't mean it won't happen but anecdotally less likely.

OP if you get a negative PCR, are you going to go to work despite the 2 positive LFTs?

My daughter just tested positive yesterday. She has lost her sense of taste. Still can smell things.
She is 10 so unvaccinated. That perhaps made a difference.

@southlondoner02

Yep, you have common current Covid symptoms. A lot of people I know have this at the moment and no one has lost their taste and smell whereas last time round lots of people did. Doesn't mean it won't happen but anecdotally less likely.

It may be in the vaccinated. My dd isn't vaccinated.

The NHS page says at the top to get PCR for symptoms but then in big yellow page further down says no Only if… need for covid payment or to access drugs.
The big box should be first but that’s Gov page for you!

You don’t need the PCR with positive LFT. You most certainly have covid. We avoided it for 2 years too and we’re all positive this week.

Dd who was vaccinated in October was positive for 1 day though. DH and me, only double jabbed are positive on day 3 and 2. Ds is positive on day 4 (will check day 5 today). Youngest is still negative although showing symptoms: odd.

I’m treating this as an experiment in our house. I’m not testing everyday, but every other day. DD must have the highest antibodies as she’s only tested positive one day.

My deduction is that vaccines work. You may still get the virus, but you’re contagious for a shorter amount of time so less chance of passing it on to more people.

Colleague had a positive LFT at work so was sent home. He went for a PCR same day and it was negative, so work had to let him back.

My family all tested positive this week after somehow avoiding it until now. Me and DH are boosted and have very mild symptoms. I just had mild cold symptoms for one day.

I had really awful symptoms - head aches, muscle stiffness and fatigue, insomnia, palpitations but I didn’t lose my sense of taste or smell. I could smell vinegar from a mile away though so I did have some disturbances. Interestingly I think that may be linked to a work incident about 15 years ago when I accidentally sniffed pure acetic acid and knocked out my taste and smell for a week!

@LondonQueen

Why did you go for a PCR when they're not necessary anymore?

To get money or medication

DH and I both have it at the moment. We're both teachers and had somehow dodged it until now. I was asked to take a PCR by the ZOE app (I've taken various antibody tests over the past two years for that), DH was told to get a PCR because of some other research thing. I've not lost taste or smell but have hideous sinus and head pain as well as back pain.

Get well soon op, I’m day 5 and have tested negative on a LFT. I couldn’t taste anything yesterday but can taste some strongly flavoured things today.

It’s very odd the moment of “it’s finally got me” isn’t it. Hopefully it will be mild, I’ve had worse colds honestly but I’m triple jabbed

I believe you need a PCR result if you’re going to claim for money when you can’t work.

@HufflepuffPride

How likely am I to lose my sense of taste and smell? This has bothered me all along, as I love my food.

Mine have faded a lot today - I haven't lost them completely (yet?) - but definitely reduced.

Between mid December and early January (when they were still doing PCRs to confirm the LFTs) I had 4 positive LFTs but all 4 of the PCRs came back negative! This was using the nose and throat swabs - I've always been negative on the nose-only ones.

When my kids got it despite me testing negative I seemed to lose my sense of taste but like a PP I could smell some things super strongly - week old washing powder on bedding was as strong as perfume and Id get the odd whiff of all sorts that weren''t easy to identify... I also had a weirdly dry mouth....I'm sure I must have had a touch of covid as it was so noticeable. Kids had temperatures for a day or so but only very mild or no noticeable symptoms. had we not been planning to see relatives chances are my youngest would have had it without us knowing at all. It's absolutely everywhere at the moment, lets hope we can get it out of the way and enjoy the rest of the year with lots of helpful antibodies!

Incidentally I found that when my kids were at their peak a nose and throat test used just in nose still returned a very strong positive (youngest just too distressed to get it in his throat on that occasion). I think LFTs are increasingly reliable I just wish they always sent you the nasal only ones - no one likes the others do they?!

I am the same didn’t get it for 2 years but went Tesco for Xmas food shopping n got covid. I know because I didn’t go anywhere else and had been getting my food delivered but there were no slots Xmas eve so had no choice. These huge warehouse shops have no ventilation no windows open etc so I believe are covid traps. Regards the lateral flows, I too had symptoms did a couple LFT which were negative so did above as I was convinced I had it and yes it came back positive! I think the LFT are very unreliable or faulty a lot of the time and this is worrying because people are getting false negatives and going around spreading it about. They also go into hospitals n care homes in these results which is so dangerous.

I’m the same! A secondary teacher and have avoided it up to this point. I am tripled jabbed but feel absolutely crappy! I do wonder if it’s because I’m 8 weeks pregnant that it’s getting to me more! I also wonder why it got me now and not so far! I think pretty much doing two people’s jobs for the past couple of weeks, having many of my frees taken away to cover absent staff etc has lowered my resilience as I was so tired. No one at work knows I’m pregnant as I didn’t want to tell them until my scan but I wonder if I should tell them early!

I also only found out originally as I did my midweek test and it was positive. Did it feel poorly just very tired which I put down to being pregnant and the 55 hours I worked last week. By the next day I felt horrendous! I’m four days in and not finding it difficult to breath but it is uncomfortable. My head and throat are also killing me. I’ve only lost my sense of taste and smell in the way you normally would with a cold…I can smell very strong things!

Sorry that should say didn’t feel poorly, just very tired

Here’s my tests. I think they are pretty conclusive really. The one on the left is the one I did first, the one on the right I did a few mins later. Nasal only orient gene ones,

See my name, feel exactly the same

PCR just come through as positive. I have it.