Can I do a lateral flow test just on my throat?

[IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads]

Can I do a LFT test just on my throat?

I'm very vulnerable to nosebleeds, always have been. I got a positive Covid test last week. Nose was fine for that swab, but after several days of swollen sinuses and blowing my nose, it's a bit fragile.

I tried to do a lateral flow test nose swab earlier, and it just caused a bit of a nosebleed - and obvs a contaminated swab.

I did a another (clean swab stick) test just on my throat, and it's come back negative. This should be good news, but I don't know whether I can trust it, since it was only from my throat.

Google only talks about nose-only tests, like the Orient Genes ones. The test I used was one of the blue box nhs ones, about 8 months old (still in date). I got given some from the hospital after they stopped being free, as I care for my mum who was having chemo at the time.

TIA

Last time I tested positive I just did a throat swab and the line came up within seconds. It was on the old style blue NHS ones.

I haven't heard of any that are throat-only unfortunately (I would like this as well as I hate the nose swab!)

I think it's important to follow the instructions if you can, but if you can't then it's probably better to test the throat than not test at all.

Sometimes with nose bleeds, one nostril is better than the other. I have one that always bleeds so will use the other. Also make sure you blow your nose first, and you don't always need to go quite as deep as you think. My partner almost goes to his brain! - that's not really necessary.

That's good to know @MattDamon. I could be here for days waiting for my nose to heal!

Both sides are bad at the moment @otterlyr, but one side is generally better. I'll try again in the morning.

Managed to do nose and throat this morning. Still positive. Turns out that throat-only tests are necessarily sensitive enough.

Oh well.

The recommendation now for LFTs is to swab your inner cheek, throat and nostril. So I think if you do just cheek and throat (leave at least 30 mins after eating/drinking) then it should be trustworthy.

The newer variants are not showing up as easily so swabbing three locations offers better results.

Ah, that is useful to know.
I'm beginning to feel I might never be negative! (It's been less than a week, I'm just getting bored now and I'm grateful abs appreciative that Covid hasn't kicked me too hard and I'm feeling normal again).

Why are you testing again? Not being funny just genuinely wondering if that's what you're meant to do?

I felt a bit under the weather and I'm caring for my mum through cancer treatment, which makes her CEV.

Ah right thank you for explaining. That makes sense. I thought it was once you've tested positive after 5 days you're OK to go out without a negative test but I see now why you need the negative.

@IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads not to worry you but i tested positive for 13 days despite feeling fine from day 5.

The government guidance doesn't mean you aren't infectious from day 5 though, if you are still testing positive you are still likely infectious. It's a real shame that the government haven't made this clearer, it would avoid a lot of unecessary contagion if people were more careful to avoid others/mask up until they test negative. But the messaging has been very poor.

I understand that @YearoftheRabbit23 and I will not be seeing my CEV mum until I've had 2 days of negative tests.

@IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads sorry the 5 day bit I included was for the previous poster who asked why you were testing.

Negative!!! On nose/throat combo swab! Day 6.

@IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads yay!!