PCR test before elective cesarean

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Hi, I've just been told me and my husband will need to have a PCR test 2 days before my cesarean. We both have had covid in the last 90 days and everything I've read on the NHS site says not to have another test within 90 days. I told the hospital this and they said not to worry as they could see how high the levels are in the test to see if it's an old or new infection. I've not heard of this before or read about it anywhere else. I'm worried that if I test positive because of an old infection I won't be allowed a birth partner or visitors. Does anyone have any experience of this?

It’s theoretically possible to tell anyone’s viral levels by looking at how many “cycles” they had to run the test for in order to find any fragments of the virus. I believe that anything over 24 cycles indicates that you don’t have enough to be considered “infected”. However, the UK still routinely run them up to 40 cycles and this info is not routinely available to clinicians. Hence why they are so many meaningless “cases” of perfectly healthy people aka “asymptomatic”.

Personally I wouldn’t trust your obstetrician to bother calling up the lab to request your cycle count. You don’t have to consent to any screening tests if you don’t want them so just say no.

@JenniferAlisonPhilippaSue thank you that's really informative. I was wondering if it was compulsory we took PCR tests. I was just worried if we didn't they would say I would not be allowed visitors or a birth partner

At our trust if the mother tests positive for Covid ahead of a planned section, the section goes ahead and the birth partner is allowed to come along so long as they are negative. If your partner refuses to take a PCR test, they then assume they are positive so are not allowed to attend the birth, therefore not a sensible move for your husband to refuse to take the test. Not everyone who has had Covid within 90 days will show as positive on a PCR again - I’m sure I read the average is much lower. Can you call your midwife, or the Day Assessment Unit (or whoever does your pre op with you) to discuss it again?