Why get a pcr?

[Wingingit15]

Can I just check, why are people still getting pcrs? Aren’t lfts enough now?
Not being flippant - genuinely interested as we are a covid house atm and just working on lfts.

Because lfts often don’t show up infection in first few days. They are ostensibly there to pick up asymptomatic cases or to check if you’re still positive after 5 days or for daily testing of a household contact.
If you have symptoms and are neg on an lft, you should get a pcr. You don’t need to get a pcr to confirm a positive lft.

If people are vaccinated the can get a covid recovery pass but you need to have a PCR for that

**aren’t

If I had a positive LFT, I wouldn't bother with the PCR.

It also helps epidemiology track the progress of the virus through the population and monitor new mutations so PCRs are still an important tool.

I got a nasty cough. LFT was negative, got a PCR which came back positive. It's the second time I've had Covid, tested negative on a LFT first time I got it as well.

I needed a positive PCR to apply for an isolation support grant from our local council

DC tested positive, the rest of us are having symptoms but negative LFTs, hence a PCR.
Also, I need to travel for work somewhere that requires a negative test or proof of recovery (previous positive PCR) to board the plane.

Didn’t realise they were still a thing. I haven’t heard of anyone getting a PCR for ages!

Because that’s what you’re supposed to do if you’ve got one or more of the (out of date) three key symptoms.

I went for one the other day because I had symptoms but a negative LFT.

NHS staff need to get one to prove they have it to have time off work with it

Thanks all. Quite a range of views as usual 😄

Because I had DS with a hideous cough who was negative by LFT. To be fair, we had the negative PCR back in 14 hours. Meant I could send him back to school.

I felt ever so slightly tired, was struggling with work (midwife) due to staffing/busy/managers not caring etc/horrible incidents, so thought it was just that. LFT negative, I called in sick as I just felt I needed a day to do nothing. Told me to do PCR which i was like WHY?!?! Was positive.

Because I've been coughing all afternoon and half my household have Covid, which is making me not trust the negative LFT.

It’s interesting isn’t it - I am neg but warm/cold and feel wiped and a bit nauseous this afternoon. Will see how I feel tomorrow but kind of feel like we are essentially isolating anyway due to sd positive so what’s the point in adding to lab burden when prob lft will show in a day or two if I have it

Friend has cough, severe headache, beyond tired etc. negative LFT. Partner has cancer, works with the public, but is refusing to do PCR as can't be bothered with it. 😩😩

I've been ill since Thursday. Flu like symptoms so took an LFT Thursday night and Friday - negative. Took one this morning and it was positive. Each day I felt progressively worse. I did record the result but won't bother with a PCR but I do wonder how they will track the changes and mutations of the virus with this rule.

If you get a positive lateral flow, do not waste your time getting a PCR unless you need it for work etc. The lateral flow is fine.

We got a PCR for DD2 this week because DD1 tested positive in A&E (for an injury, not covid) & has been asymptomatic the entire time. DD2 meanwhile has had a stinking cold I was convinced would be covid but the PCR was negative as have all lateral flows. The negative PCR meant I could send her back to nursery. Because we had a positive household member & possible covid symptoms, they asked us to PCR. Fair enough.

My toddler was very poorly with symptoms including cough and runny nose. Multiple LFTs negative. The nurse said she would see him in the isolation pod in the car park while wearing full PPE, but without a negative PCR he wouldn’t be allowed in the surgery to see a GP because his symptoms could potentially be Covid. She said get a PCR because if he gets worse he’ll need to see a doctor and they’ll want a negative PCR first.

I'm getting pcrs for my kids if they get a cough until I have to pay for them. It's like a ticket back into school.

I didn't think we could get PCRs anymore!

When i had covid I never tested positive on a LFT at all only on a PCR

DD felt unwell so we did an LFT. It was positive. My work (NHS) dictates I can’t return to work without a negative PCR so I did one, that was negative. I’ve since had a positive LFT (!) I see no need to do another PCR to confirm it.