Can you have covid but test negative

[dg93]

Ok, so my mum has cancer - had her surgery 2 weeks ago and was fine afterwards.

Last Friday my dad came into contact with someone who had covid (he wasn't told until the following day)

On Monday my dad tested positive for Covid, his only symptom being he is feeling hot. His symptoms started on Sunday.

My mums symptoms started on Monday but she has been testing negative ever since.

Her symptoms include being sick, feeling hot, coughing and having a headache.

So, is it possible to have covid but just test negative? They are testing using the same bath of tests, so we know it's not the tests.

Thanks in advance!

FYI I mention her surgery as she is in denial and is just saying she's I'll because of her surgery - she is still isolating just incase.

Home tests aren't as reliable hence the need for a PCR if you have symptoms. Sometimes it takes days for a LF test to show positive.

Yes it's possible to have Covid but test negative. She should book a PCR with those symptoms - and also because of household contact, although that's not a rule now.

However, the test most likely to pick it up is still the LFT, so tell her to keep testing. The swabbing technique most likely to pick omicron up is throat, tell her to try doing both even if her kit says nasal only.

Although hopefully even if she is positive it won't affect her too badly.

I had several Covid symptoms a couple of months ago, I did isolate and was testing every other day, not once did I have a positive test. So it is possible your mother doesn't have it.

I had something between Christmas and New Year that had many covid symptoms but I tested negative every time.

I now have actual covid: the line came up straight away using a test from the same box of LFTs that had given me negatives all along at Christmas and I tested positive on the PCR test so it is possible your mum doesn't have it but she should get a PCR as others have said.

Has she done a PCR test?

I was negative for 5 days on lateral flows while having Covid. My son was 4. Definitely get a PCR.

I was negative on LFTs but got a positive PCR. The LFT went positive 2 days after the PCR.

Shes supposed to take a PCR if she has symptoms