Lateral Flow Tests

Definitelycross · 2022-11-23T10:07:35+00:00

So Covid finally got me on Monday. It's awful and much worse than any cold or flu I've had before. My question is - where is the best place to get as cheap as possible, but still reliable lateral flow tests? My dad is immune compromised so I need to have two negative ones before I'd risk seeing him. Plus my son needs to test. Thank you in advance.

AriettyHomily · 23/11/2022 10:08

I thought they weren't reliable anymore as we have evolved through so many variants?

Original poster

Definitelycross · 23/11/2022 10:21

AriettyHomily · 23/11/2022 10:08

I thought they weren't reliable anymore as we have evolved through so many variants?

Really?

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FaazoHuyzeoSix · 23/11/2022 10:26

Sorry you're unwell @Definitelycross. Once it's been 10 days since onset of symptoms you won't be significantly infectious any more, regardless of what tests say - you can go on testing positive for a while without being infectious.

we were originally told during the lockdowns that LFTs are only any good for detecting infections that are asymptomatic or before symptoms develop, and that once you have symptoms you need a PCR test as the LFTs won't give a reliable result. The "two negative tests" thing was introduced later to try to reduce the economic and social impact of the 10 day isolation periods by allowing some people to be out and about again after 5 days if they felt well, but in the case of your decisions about protecting your vulnerable dad, you are best off just sticking with 10 days, and given how poorly you are feeling you probably won't want to be out abd about much before then anyway.

But yes your son needs to test if he's not developing symptoms. Buying in bulk reduces the cost - I get the 10 packs from lloyds pharmacy which work out as £1.70 each - I think you can get a bit cheaper online but I am dubious about the quality of those.

Original poster

Definitelycross · 23/11/2022 10:30

FaazoHuyzeoSix · 23/11/2022 10:26

Sorry you're unwell @Definitelycross. Once it's been 10 days since onset of symptoms you won't be significantly infectious any more, regardless of what tests say - you can go on testing positive for a while without being infectious.

we were originally told during the lockdowns that LFTs are only any good for detecting infections that are asymptomatic or before symptoms develop, and that once you have symptoms you need a PCR test as the LFTs won't give a reliable result. The "two negative tests" thing was introduced later to try to reduce the economic and social impact of the 10 day isolation periods by allowing some people to be out and about again after 5 days if they felt well, but in the case of your decisions about protecting your vulnerable dad, you are best off just sticking with 10 days, and given how poorly you are feeling you probably won't want to be out abd about much before then anyway.

But yes your son needs to test if he's not developing symptoms. Buying in bulk reduces the cost - I get the 10 packs from lloyds pharmacy which work out as £1.70 each - I think you can get a bit cheaper online but I am dubious about the quality of those.

Oh thank you. That's a lot clearer.

Yes I'll stick to the 10 day rule then and I'll send him in to pick up some tests.

To be honest it feels so long ago that all this started I couldn't remember what we were told or what to do. So thank you to you and the PP.

And you're right I'm not going anywhere at the moment. Bed to sofa, son comes home so then sofa to bed. Even that's tiring

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Numbat2022 · 23/11/2022 10:45

AriettyHomily · 23/11/2022 10:08

I thought they weren't reliable anymore as we have evolved through so many variants?

Where did you hear that? They work fine, I know two families with Covid at the moment who are testing positive on lateral flows.

They test for the presence of the virus itself, not the variant.

Original poster

Definitelycross · 23/11/2022 11:19

@FaazoHuyzeoSix I ordered some from Lloyds. Thank you for the heads up.

I'm just so cross it got me in the end

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