A lateral flow showed a weak positive. Hi Melissa, I did a flowflex test today and it's negative. It's been a really troubling few weeks trying to be acknowledged and listened to. "I take two tests a week because I see so many people as part of my job," she says. mmm theres also PCR false negatives so I wouldnt be so quick to assume the LF is wrong. second PCR test 48 hours after the first carried out. However, if a line appears *after* the interpretation window then this does NOT count as a positive test. Says in the bumph, any line no matter how faint should be treated as a positive test and go get PCR. x. Hi Melissa - it is a frustration - as I know someone who had to fly out urgently on a business trip - the morning of the flight got this false positive and he was fully vaccinated - did contract covid post vacinne - had to spend over 500 as had to do another test at another company that came back fine - able to board the flight! Others think that as the Omicron wave passes, it is time to wind down the mass testing programme completely. For many of us, taking a lateral flow test is part of our routine. I really hope you get to the bottom of it and do let me know if there are any developments on your side. Four subsequent LFTs were negative but I got a PCR anyway, which is positive. After 20mins a very thin (positive) second line appeared. Hi there, thank you for sharing your nephew's experience. And a digital membership where you can read all the digital magazines is normally 25, and now 12.50 with the code. Again, after a squinter of a lateral flow test line one day, there was a strong positive hours later. I hope you find the cause of yours . Whatever happens to the pandemic itself though, scientists think mass testing may have opened the door to other more efficient ways of detecting disease in the near future. Weve now had three types at home, some require reading in a 15-30 window, some not before 30 minutes the others Ive not had before and havent opened yet but, as above, regardless, if theres a line book a pcr and isolate until you get the result of that. contacted directly and sent lateral flow tests at home to use if they have symptoms\\" Thanks for doing that. "I was feeling tired, but then I'm always feeling tired," she says. No medical test - not even one conducted in a laboratory - can ever be 100% accurate. Thanks so much for your message - yes I really am just trying to find someone out there who has had a similar experience to mine. For the particular kits you have or the last lot [you read the instructions for]? So I uploaded a picture of my test, with faint line clearly shown, and while waiting for the result contacted my traveling companions to start revising our plans. The 2 very faint positives I got on sainsburys test have disappeared. Once in June and again last week. I would say it is worth reporting your wife's experience though, incase there is some kind of exemption going forwards. A change from negative to positive can occur within hours, experts have shown. I definitely agree that false positives are possible, I just find it strange that all the lateral flow tests I have done come back positive. All negative except this week. To confirm I got a first response (boots are doing buy 1 get 1 free) and it came up positive. Thanks, Claire x. Hi Claire, I am so sorry you're going through this too but so relieved to have found someone in the same position! Im back to taking pain medication most days now and wearing wrist/ knee supports. It's so naughty and a real step up from when I was little and we used to do the old thermometer on a hot water bottle trick (which my Mum never fell for!). A swab is taken from the back of the nose or throat, mixed with an extraction fluid, and a drop of this mixture is. He reassured his followers and said that if this line appears after the 30 minute window, then it does not count as a positive test. We can't be the only ones out there! she did two more one in the evening and another on Saturday morning 21/8/2021 showing positive result . Yes I am and strongly anti-CCP positive. Cheeky monkies eh?! Have anyone else tested positive? Mumsnet carries some affiliate marketing links, so if you buy something through our posts, we may get a small share of the sale (more details here). You no longer have to get a follow-up PCR test if you test positive on a lateral flow with no symptoms. This is where you. In December, London-based A&E doctor Nathan Hudson-Peacock. Hopefully in time things will become clearer! The proportion of false positives does increase when the prevalence of the disease falls in society. I have had positives with every flowflex so far which is a box of 7, but a negative qPCR. This is interesting Melissa. If it is the latter, and obviously assuming you are asymptomatic at this point, you are very unlikely to be a transmission risk anyway and so it is of little significance, he reassured. While all rapid antigen tests currently on the market for COVID are lateral flow tests, not all lateral . When twice-weekly rapid testing was rolled out in secondary schools in the spring of 2021, there were worries that large numbers of pupils would be incorrectly told they had the virus - a so-called "false positive" - and sent home. make sure you swab your nose thoroughly, and also ensure everything from the swab is transferred into the test fluid. "The best advice is if you have symptoms is to simply stay at home until you are better, and that way you will avoid spreading Covid, flu and a host of other viral infections. I don't have RA, but was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 1997 as I suffer with chronic pain. Hi Soph, I am so sorry to hear you are having this problem, but glad you have found me on here! Have you spoken to your GP about it? With getting negatives on the NHS labelled brand though, and reading your post I'm not as concerned now. I haven't been eating or drinking that close to doing them, although some of them weren't first thing in the morning. I would also ask, if you don't mind, to write to NRAS. Visit our corporate site www.futureplc.com Future Publishing Limited, Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. I'm so sorry to hear you have been shielding for so long, I can't imagine how difficult that must have been. To be fair I think most people would glance at it and say negative so maybe I am ok. Mudmuncher, you shouldnt need a phone light to see if there is a line there or not. A positive lateral flow test no matter how faint must be treated as a definite Covid-19 case as the home testing kits are "very reliable", a Queen's University virologist has said.. I guess I am just trying to find other people who have had this experience because I find it hard to believe I am the only person out there. Whenever you do a test, set a timer forthe waiting time specified in the test kit instructions.. Good luck and let me know how you get on. I have had the exact same thing twice now. One step closer to me and my family being reunited. It would be hugely inconvenient not as inconvenient as the person who directly from you, or indirectly for someone you infect ends up in ITU. As the bride's mother , my wife's sister , had passed away years a go with breast cancer. GP advised that I probably had COVID (I wasnt convinced). I have followed the rules and that isnt an I was only following orders defence, it was just one of the factors in my decision. Some have had negative results on nasal LFT but followed up with a positive PCR test on the same day. Many of us will now be very familiar with Covid lateral flow tests, but a doctor has warned that there are a number of mistakes people regularly make when taking them. At least within a group of relatives and friends. Four subsequent LFTs were negative but I got a PCR anyway, which is positive. Ive already had to postpone steroid injections in my knees because of it. !! To begin with they were rolled out in healthcare settings, workplaces and sporting events. Thanks for your help, I'll be sticking to the flowflex ones from now on! Lateral flow antigen testing detects the presence of the COVID-19 viral antigen from a swab sample. After completing your LFT you should wait 30 minutes for the test to interpret the results from your swabs. I have taken 4 lateral flow tests (3 on the same occasion and 1 on a separate), all of which have come back positive. This is because tests are made by different manufacturers and could have different requirements to make sure they are being done correctly. Well, they work for me! If so, I wonder if we could flag this together to our Rheumatology depts. and services we offer. While most kits have a standard time of half an hour, Dr Hudson-Peacock noted it is important to double-check the instructions and explained that results must be checked within that specific time period otherwise they can be inaccurate. I had a faint line LFT on Christmas Day, redid it again faint line tried for a third time but did it like a pcr throat then nose and it lit up like a traffic light. Treat as +ve get a PCR done. Gradually those same rapid lateral flow tests have become part of everyday life. I too have the worry that false positives will cause me difficulties in the future. Privacy Policy. Therefore , we had to missed the wedding with a devastating impact on my wife , as she was standing for the Brides mother . Has it all been worth it? What does a faint line mean on a lateral flow test? According to the government's . Alexander Edwards, associate professor in biomedical technology at the University of Reading, says it "quickly became clear" that if the tests were used as instructed, "you don't tend to get large numbers of false positives". Kevin Lyttle Click here to get The Sun newspaper delivered for FREE for the next six weeks. Evaporation lines are colorless streaks, not faint lines. Some schooling was disrupted unnecessarily but - overall - those real-world results were better than some had first feared. My wife too did the LFT on Friday 20 /8/2021 with positive results . I've seen that the more faint the line, the more the virus is "on it's way out" but a line is a line, right? If a faint line appears after 30 minutes, he adds, it may not indicate a positive result - but people should still be cautious about socialising indoors and take precautions. Anyway, thank you for your post as it has given me some clarity. Thanks, Melissa. I have just received a message from the British Society for Rheumatology who said they will refer it onto their Covid steering group for consideration. I have now had both Pfizer jabs. This is because some substances, including fizzy drinks, can give false positives. The GP I spoke with just seemed baffled and gave no indication of how I could resolve things. Am taking 5mg Prednisolone at the moment.Believe I caught covid in December 2019 but was too early for a test at the time. You know deep down the testing company have screwed up you are most likely infectious but not only did you decide to leave the house you got on a ferry to another country. Hope you feel ok, but Im with the +ve crew. Thanks for your message. Nathan, who goes by @expedition_doctor on Instagram, said he received a positive PCR result following a very faint lateral flow test result. Three days later lft was strongly positive in seconds. The only day the line was dark was 12/26. How many of them wait the full 30 minutes is questionable too. 45 mins later and the second LFT is completely clear, maybe Ive already scraped all the covid particles out of my nose on the previous tests, Hopefully will get the PCR result tomorrow. I did this because I got a negative PCR test this morning, so it was a sensible time to try this knowing I don't have Covid. Taking to Instagram, Dr Hudson-Peacock detailed what it means if a faint line shows up next to the T within or outside of the interpretation window. After getting nowhere, my Rheumatology nurse suggested I try swabbing just my throat for a lateral flow test and just my nose for another. The innova test showed a faint second line but the government issue lateral flow tests were consistently negative and three pcrs were negative too. Therefore, day-to-day I am rarely in settings that I would say put me at particularly high risk of catching it. I did lateral flows minutes apart using two different brands. You can find out more about our legitimate interest activity in our Privacy Policy. Thanks for the reply Melissa. I am travelling to Greece to see my Mum and Dad on Sunday and the Greek Embassy said that it was an acceptable letter, and so I would highly recommend you try and get one if you can. Their email address is: bsr@rheumatology.org.uk if you feel you want to share your experience too. I understand false negatives are common but false positives are rare. SiL also had faint LFT and then negative PCR next day. Even if you have a very faint line on the T section of the lateral flow test, you should still isolate if you test positive on day six or seven. If you are comfortable, it might be worth letting them know your experience too. Update number 2!Virology came back to say that this is a medical phenomenon that they are aware of but as yet, do not know why this is happening to certain people. Allyson Pollock, professor of public health at Newcastle University, says tests should be part of a clinical diagnosis or targeted at places like care homes and hospitals, where people are working with vulnerable groups. I am glad to hear you don't have Covid this time, although is sounds like you are having similar lateral flow issues to me. In general, yes, we can reason that the faint lines indicate less virus and vice versa. If you get to day 10 and you're still testing positive, then the NHS has some guidance. Regular testing is key in the face of Omicron, especially as it's been proven that the virus is milder - and therefore, could be mistaken for cold and flu like symptoms. We will use the details you have shared to manage your registration. The tests missed 60 per cent of positive cases that would have been found through a PCR, meaning many people with Covid are given whats called a false negative. In June I felt unwell and had a bad headache. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. You no longer have to get a follow-up PCR test if you test positive on a lateral flow with no symptoms. Drinking fresh orange juice seems to give a positive. It seems so inconsistent as well. You can WhatsApp us on 07423 720 250. However, if the "positive" line is very faint and appears after a certain amount of time, it could actually mean you are not infected, a doctor has said. Search the forum using the power of Google. Firstly, failing to spot faint lines in the test can man the user mistakenly believes their result is negative. But if you can see anything with ordinary lighting it is positive. I also read MERCK's guideline (Rapid Lateral Flow Test Strips) and it said that 0.05% SDS or 0.005% Tritonx-100 should be added to the capture reagent solution to promote rewetting of the membrane. So interesting that other people have experienced this too. But those PCRs can pick up old genetic material from the virus left in the body even after the infectious period. I went to an international trade show In January with a big delegation from China prior to the virus announcement. No conclusive link can be drawn between this and antibodies relating to RA. Of course, if you are ever in doubt about the result of a lateral flow test, you should always book a PCR test to confirm whether or not you have Covid-19. I think there are more of us than we realise but it's still incredibly difficult to trust these tests and to know what to do about it. still infected? "I'm serious when I say they have been the single most powerful tool in reducing transmission of the virus," says Irene Petersen, professor of epidemiology at University College London. Hi there. As we all work to limit the high levels of transmission of this variant over the Christmas period, we are urging people to test regularly, particularly before attending social gatherings. My GP has written a letter for me to carry when travelling, so I feel more comfortable getting on a plane to go and see my Mum and Dad, knowing I have something to show if I am spot checked at the border. I am anti-ccp, RF factor positive RA - if you don't mind me asking, what type do you have? You should also get a PCR test if you have any of the symptoms of Covid-19: While these are the official symptoms according to the NHS, newer variants have reporteddifferent symptomswhich are more akin to a cold. At conservative gathering, Trump is still the favourite. When we get a test result for a disease like COVID-19, we naturally expect it to be either positive or negative. O holy fright: even a faint second line on a lateral flow test means you are positive Credit: iStockphoto For the past few months, our lives have been ruled by a swab up the nose. 15/03/2021 06:12 I've never had a negative lateral flow test change from showing a negative even after 30mins. A major review found that lateral flow tests used in England were almost always correct when they produced a positive result (99 per cent). Hi there. Who can still get free lateral flow tests from this Friday. and our Also my RA nurse said she'd mention it to my consultant. He seems to think if it was related to RA, it would have been noticed already but I wonder how much data there is available? "You might be able to have a system where a vulnerable person can get tested and get the drugs immediately. The other possibility I thought of is CSF, as I have high intercranial pressure from excess cerebral spinal fluid, so could have a CSF leak in my nose. From today, those who. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. He suggested to social distance, hand wash and wear your mask and continue testing with LFTs as per NHS guidance. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. I am 33 y/o and have CCP-positive Rheumatoid Arthritis. I have no symptoms, and two subsequent tests have been negative. Another LF in the morning had a bold line, PCR was positive. Do you know where I can order the flowflex tests from? Also certain types of toothpaste. It's there because it was the only thing we had at the beginning. I am new to this forum and have a unique issue which I am hoping someone out there may have experienced too. A lateral flow test must be taken 24 hours apart on day six and seven of the isolation period, and if both tests come back negative, isolation can end on day seven. OK I'm a scientist (a biochemist) and have spent several years of my life developing these kind of tests so an expert. Have you logged the issue anywhere? Did a lateral flow test in the morning of the 6th. If you don't mind me asking, what type of RA do you have? Virology at St Thomas' hospital said it is a phenomenon they know about but don't yet know why. I do loads of LFT for work. Either way it's not very reassuring knowing they're less sensitive than made out. They told me about this post. food or drink, or some other very weak contaminant that is causing a false positive), or there are just incredibly low levels of the virus. I do have some developments since posting this. . food or drink, or some other very weak contaminant that. But they were less accurate when it came to giving a negative result. For example, some tests require you to do both a mouth and nose swab - while some just require a nose swab. In this case, Dr Hudson-Peacock suggested the most sensible next step would be to not to isolate unnecessarily which he deemed bad for mental health and work and not to book a PCR which makes it harder for people who genuinely need them to get one. But Operation Moonshot - as it was called by the government - got off to a bumpy start. Im so relieved to see this! I let track and trace know at the time as well. However, the PCR tests have consistently come back negative. Any other lines appearing may not be Covid. Get a pcr done asap. Always just the one line even an hour or so later. That's interesting. Mine started at a very faint line.