best time of day to do an LFT

[roundandrounditgoes1234]

Is there a time where viral load is likely to be higher? AM or PM ?

I always do my tests straight out of bed before brushing teeth or drinking anything as I assumed it would be concentrated and easier to pick up…but plenty of people test negative am but positive pm. I guess it just depends on when you were infected as to how many hours after you are shedding the virus. I’m watching with interest for the scientific answer!

Who are these people who are testing twice a day? Why?

I’d say about 24 hours after you’re feeling rough. DH felt rough on the Sunday evening but tested negative Monday morning, he tested positive that evening as he developed more symptoms and took another test. I started to feel ill on the Wednesday and tested negative Wednesday evening but positive early Thursday morning.

I am already positive wondering when on day 5 to do the lft to see if its still positive and i can stop isolating! Once you have covid is there any difference to what time of day you test (thinking with preganancy tests for example you're hormones are stronger first thing!) or would you just release yourself if after 5 days you feel well as per guidance? I did a test today (day 3 or 4) got the positive on Wednesday and it was def still positive today had a couple of rough days at the beginning Weds/ thursday though i'm feeling well now and was feeling fine yesterday too. Desperate to get out!

You dont need to test to end isolation. I didn't after testing positive last Thursday. Just avoided people for 5 days and then went back to normal

@dementedpixie seems people are split about that though - i work in events where i will need to mix with the public. Were you very ill with it ? Mine was short lived
Also what is day 1 - people keep talking about a day zero? when isolating? i got a positive test on Wednesday but felt off on Tuesday (did a test that morning that was negative but fairly certain if i'd tested that night it would have been positive)
I'm very anxious about harming people but also aware that i feel fine now!

Day 1 is day after symptoms or day after positive test if no symptoms I think

I had a sore throat and snotty/blocked nose. Have also lost sense of smell. Didn't have it badly at all

@dementedpixie juts our of interest did you do a test at all during your illness? wondering if with such mild symptoms you came back negative, think my employers might want to know i'm negative for sure!

No I only tested at the start

I was no longer symptomatic after about 6 days so went out but DH was symptomatic until about day 9 so stayed in. I wore a mask while I was out. If your employer is still airing on the side of caution I would wait until 10 days or ask for their guidance. I took day 1 as the day I started feeling ill even though it was a day before the positive test.

@XenoBitch people who have tested in a morning as they usually would but then started feeling poorly later?
I’ve read a few posts like that.

@roundandrounditgoes1234 Wednesday was your day 0 then.