Utterly Bizarre

[TwuntyFriend]

Hi MN,

Wondering if anyone else has had similar and can offer any insight?

Last Wed, EXH Tested positive for Covid by a PCR. LFT was negative. Thurs & Fri - LFT's still Neg. Sat follow up PCR - now Neg. No symptoms. This Tues - PCR again negative. LFTs remained neg throughout.

Tuesday DS had PCR. Positive. DS has also tested negative on LFTs from when his father tested positive until today, even though PCR positive.

For the record, I have used both different types of LFT's. Swabbed both throat and nostrils.

DS has had a follow up PCR today which is hopefully negative, but I'm perplexed as to why the LFTs are picking up nothing from both him and his dad?!

PCR's can show positive results for quite a while. That's why they tell you not to get a PCR for 90 days after you test positive.

a few possible reasons...sometimes a PCR is picking up remnants of old or reactivated virus; its also thought that people who catch covid but who have immunity from vaccines or prior infection will generate an effective immune response so they don't have a high enough viral load to test positive on LFT .

s1h2o3na - That makes sense. As far as I know DS hasn't had Covid at all prior to this time. His father had it at the very beginning and nothing since. Due to his job he has to have a PCR weekly. It's just confusing how the PCR can go from positive to negative in a matter of a few days!

@s1h2o3na

a few possible reasons...sometimes a PCR is picking up remnants of old or reactivated virus; its also thought that people who catch covid but who have immunity from vaccines or prior infection will generate an effective immune response so they don't have a high enough viral load to test positive on LFT .

This must be why I am not picking up a positive result on my home tests even though I have symptoms and I had a close contact last weekend.

My viral load probably isn't hight enough. I am also tackling my dose with fluids and paracetamol and holistic measures like lemons, honey, garlic, ginger to ensure it doesn't get too serious. I am sucking on everything.

Lft's often don't pick up at all. A colleague who had covid in the first wave so definitely not picking up any old virus tested daily and never once had a positive lft. She was incredibly unwell too

This was before vaccines too

Why on earth are they testing so often?