False positive- drops went in both LFT ‘windows’

[SandalsAndSox]

I am feeling real rough (like a pre cold hangover feeling) so took a lateral flow test.

I accidentally spilled a drop into the wrong window as well as the correct window so did a retest. The ‘failed ‘ test was positive (left) and the retest was negative (middle) and then the ‘control’ that I did by adding the liquid only to the wrong window (without swabbing) showed no result at all (right pic).

I did another test properly took and that was negative too. I have an important meeting tomorrow that must be attended in person.

Would you treat this as a positive result or not? Did I accidentally create a false positive??

@emmathedilemma The dye doesn't run up the test strip though, that's not how they work. The dye is impregnated only where the 2 lines are. The control line is activated simply when it gets wet. The test line is activated when the liquid that wets it contains the virus. Once the line or lines have been activated (and gone pink) the dye can then bleed or run – this is what's happened in the OP's first pic. Bleeding/running of the pink lines usually happens when the tests are flooded, or in this case when liquid is applied in the wrong place.

My bets are on OP being positive I'm afraid. That's a clear, dark, pink line and not a bleed.

I'd do another test first thing tomorrow morning before you eat or drink, swabbing both your throat and nose - you're most likely to pick up a positive doing this.

@BlackInk so how would you respond to the issue I mentioned above about the conjugate pad? (I am totally ignorant about how it works!)

How are you OP?

Er I don't think repeated swabbing is ever going to deplete the amount of Covid in a throat....

Hi all, I tested negative last night and again this morning so I think it was a false positive after all! Feeling better today- like I have a very mild cold.