Symptoms but negative LFT - how long did it take for a positive test?

[Bebaboo]

Hello - dealing with a sick child. I know that there are other bugs out there so I’m trying to work out if it’s covid or not and how quickly I’ll be able to get them back to school. They have a temp, bad cough, sore throat, stomach ache, and are saying food tastes wrong etc etc. They’re young so I’ve done an LFT (nose swab only) and it’s negative. Symptoms started last night. How long after symptoms started did it take for you to test positive?

I'm not even 100 per cent sure that the tests work these days? Hopefully someone will come along with more knowledge.
I'm really ill at the moment with "typical" covid symptoms but I've done a test and it's negative. Think I'm on like day 5 or 6 of feeling rough.

I’ve just read another thread where it didn’t show up until day 4. I’ve heard of others not shouting up until day 5 or 6!

I know some nasal only were missing the new variant & it was advised to still swab thread and nose.

If they have a temp they will be feeling too rotten for school anyway so it would depend when that’s gone down.

My positive came up after 24h of symptoms - although slow coming/quite faint. Now day 4 and positive v quickly coming up. I think it's variable but don't think a negative test totally means not covid. And some variability between makes and age of tests. Hope she better soon

Thanks! There won’t be any school for a few days, I’m just trying to guess if I’ll be back at work sooner rather than later.

I tested day 1 and 2 which were negative so I assumed it wasn’t Covid until day 5 when I lost taste and smell then it came up a glaring positive when I tested again.

Day I started with mild tickle, that same day in the evening i felt like I was coming down with something. Negative

Day 2 full blown covid symptoms felt really ill. Negative but still stayed off work.

Day 3 felt MUCH better. Positive!

So Day 3 for me but most people I know have been Day 1 or 2. Some as far 4 days. My parents and partner have always tested positive on Day 1 of symptoms

I had covid symptoms for four days before I got a positive LFT.

I am feeling absolutely terrible for 2 weeks now, sore throat, headache, joints pain, and a bad cough. I'm pretty sure it must be covid as it seems to be everywhere at the minute, more than flu, but lft negative.