Lateral flow testing

llahl55

Twice a week my family are taking lateral flow tests, I have 3 children all in different schools so want to keep on top of testing to keep us all safe. For the last 3 weeks I’ve had positive lateral flow tests which have all resulted in negative PCR tests. Last nights test was positive so I’m once again booked in for a PCR today. My children are having to stay home to ‘isolate’ and missing time in school (they have missed far too much time due to the pandemic) luckily the schools have all been lovely about it and understand the importance of them staying home until I get results from PCR. does anyone have a similar experience? Does anyone have any suggestions as to why this could be happening? Thanks in advance

mikehughescq

Fairly simple and well publicised. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/11/us-health-agency-gives-innova-lateral-flow-covid-tests-scathing-review?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other Basically a scandalous waste of public money.

llahl55

This is more to do with false negative results. I can’t find anything to do with multiple false positives. I do them as I have 3 children in school and I am a carer to one of my children so this is for reassurance for the schools and ourselves. 

mikehughescq said:

Fairly simple and well publicised. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/11/us-health-agency-gives-innova-lateral-flow-covid-tests-scathing-review?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other Basically a scandalous waste of public money.

Tori_Scope

Hi @llahl55 Lateral flow tests aren't always accurate unfortunately, but it does seem a little odd that you'd get repeated false positives. Have you been following the instructions in the pack really carefully? 

llahl55

Yes I do them for 5 of us twice a week and mine are the only ones coming up positive. It’s just so strange x

Tori_Scope said:

Hi @llahl55 Lateral flow tests aren't always accurate unfortunately, but it does seem a little odd that you'd get repeated false positives. Have you been following the instructions in the pack really carefully? 

mikehughescq

The nature of LFTs means that false positives are to be expected and one person getting consecutive false positives is exactly how random distribution/statistics work. There’s nothing odd about that at all. It would be odder if every person who had a false positive only ever had the one. Then you would suspect the stats were made up.

janer1967

My son d8es his twice a week as required by school never had a positive result but gas had to isolate as result of other class members being positive from the lft to then find a negative test 

llahl55

I understand this has also happened to 2 of my children’s class mates. but 3 weeks in a row isn’t right. 5 members of the house test, and have done since March but none of them have ever had a positive. 

I don’t mind having to test or go for the PCR but it’s affecting my children’s education as they can’t go to school.

janer1967 said:

My son d8es his twice a week as required by school never had a positive result but gas had to isolate as result of other class members being positive from the lft to then find a negative test 

llahl55

mikehughescq said:

The nature of LFTs means that false positives are to be expected and one person getting consecutive false positives is exactly how random distribution/statistics work. There’s nothing odd about that at all. It would be odder if every person who had a false positive only ever had the one. Then you would suspect the stats were made up.

The tests are supposed to pick up high levels of the virus. So one false positive I can understand but more than one doesn’t make sense if the virus isn’t present. 

mikehughescq

llahl55 said:

This is more to do with false negative results. I can’t find anything to do with multiple false positives. I do them as I have 3 children in school and I am a carer to one of my children so this is for reassurance for the schools and ourselves. 

mikehughescq said:

Fairly simple and well publicised. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/11/us-health-agency-gives-innova-lateral-flow-covid-tests-scathing-review?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other Basically a scandalous waste of public money.

Seriously? https://fullfact.org/health/lateral-flow/

The problem is that most people mistrust statistics without having the faintest ide how to read them in the first place. Three in a row is exactly what you’d expect if tue distribution of faise positives was random. Random distribution is not the same as equal distribution. 

lisathomas50

If you have more than one positive test uou have to go and have a test done at the test center I have two lateral flow tests a week had one positive had a test done at the test center and I had corona virus glad I use them as at the time I took the test I had no symptoms but did a few days later 

woodbine

Senior management has now done 3 LFT in 10 days in order to visit her mum who's on end of life care in hospital, 3 test 3 negatives which is to be expected after having had her 2nd jab weeks ago.

lisathomas50

Still can get after second jab if don't follow rules 

llahl55

lisathomas50 said:

If you have more than one positive test uou have to go and have a test done at the test center I have two lateral flow tests a week had one positive had a test done at the test center and I had corona virus glad I use them as at the time I took the test I had no symptoms but did a few days later 

I’ve had negative PCR tests each time from th test centre 

llahl55

lisathomas50 said:

Still can get after second jab if don't follow rules 

I do follow the rules. I barely leave my house. I’m a stay at home mum and carer for my son. I’m extremely careful when I’m out