The free trials were abolished at a time when Covid rates are high due to the highly contagious BA.2 offshoot of the Omicron variant. It means that people who do not have stock of pre-ordered tests have to pay out of pocket to know for sure if they have the virus. If you have access to tests, see what you need to know about how to read them, including what a faint line means.
What does a positive lateral flow test look like?
The lateral flow devices are small white rectangles made of plastic with a test strip inside. There is a small well at the bottom of the device with the letter “S” next to it. Here you drop your sample. Above this there is a window in the test strip. At the top of the window is the letter “C” and below this is the letter “T”. C means “test” and T means “test”. Once you drop your sample into the well, a red line should appear next to C relatively quickly. This line should be present every time you do a sideflow test. If a red line appears next to T, it means you are positive. If there is no line, it means the test is negative.
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What if the line is faint?
Even if the line next to T is extremely faint, it means that your test is positive. Government guidelines state: “Outcome lines may appear blurry or weak, but they are still valid.” However, you should be careful to check the lateral flow test instructions before doing them, as they can sometimes look false positive if you read them too late. The instructions will tell you how long to wait before checking your test. Most say between 15-30 minutes. NHS A&E doctor Nathan Hudson-Peacock said a second line appearing after the 30-minute window may not indicate a positive result. He said: “If the faint line appears after the window, the most likely cause is either that there was an infection (eg food or drink or some other weak infection) or there are just very low levels of the virus. “If it is the latter, and obviously assuming you are asymptomatic at this point, then you are unlikely to be at risk for transmission.” He added that a “reasonable approach” would be to be extra careful with precautions such as social distance, hand washing and mask use, and to continue regular testing where possible.
Does a faint line mean you are less contagious?
There is nothing in government or NHS official advice to say that a faint line means you are less contagious. However, Queen’s University’s virologist Dr Connor Bamford told the Belfast Telegraph that this could happen. “LFTs measure the approximate amount of virus in the sample,” he said. “A bigger, bolder line means more virus and a dimmer line can mean less virus. “However, in both cases there is a possibility of infection. If LFTs pick up anything, they are very, very likely to get infected. “In a few hours it can go from very faint to very, very bold and so in both cases you probably have enough virus to spread it. “If you see a faint band, you should treat it as positive. You are positive, you are infected, so if you can see something in this LFT, you should treat it like it is Covid and you should isolate yourself. “
How accurate are lateral flow tests?
The Drugs and Health Products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) said “no test is 100 percent reliable” because lateral flow tests can not detect low levels of the virus. A Cochrane review, published in March of this year, looked at 64 studies published up to September 2020, which examined 16 different antigen tests and five different molecular tests. In people with confirmed Covid-19, antigen tests were found to correctly detect the infection in an average of 72 percent of asymptomatic individuals and 58 percent of asymptomatic individuals. The tests were more accurate when used in the first week after the onset of symptoms. In people who did not have the virus, antigen tests correctly ruled out infection in 99.5 percent of people with Covid-type symptoms and in 98.9 percent of people without symptoms. He concluded that the tests are useful in selecting individuals with symptoms for further PCR testing.
What should I do if I am positive?
If you have symptoms of Covid-19, you no longer need to be tested or isolated. However, the NHS advises anyone with symptoms to stay home and avoid contact with others. If you are positive or have symptoms, the NHS advises you to follow these steps:
Try to work from home if you can – if you can not work from home, ask your employer about the options available to you. Stay home if you can – this helps reduce the number of people you come in contact with. Avoid contact with people at higher risk of Covid-19, especially if their immune system means they are at higher risk of serious illness than Covid-19, even if they have been vaccinated. Follow the tips on how to prevent the virus from spreading to the people you live with. Let people in your home know that you’re positive or have symptoms – then they can take steps to protect themselves, such as wearing a face mask that suits them, staying away from you as long as they can. wash their hands regularly; Contact your healthcare provider and let them know if you have a positive test result or symptoms if you are asked to make an appointment for a medical or dental appointment. Ask friends, relatives or neighbors to bring you food or other necessities.
If you have Covid-19, you can spread the virus to other people for up to 10 days after the onset of your infection. Many people will no longer be contagious to others after five days. Previously, individuals were advised to leave the isolation after five full days if the test was negative for two consecutive days or after 10 days if they continued to be positive. You can continue to follow this advice if you wish and have exams available.
What are the new symptoms of Covid?
The NHS now lists the following as official Covid symptoms:
High temperature or chills – high temperature means you feel hot when you touch your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature) New, persistent cough – this means a lot of coughing for more than an hour or three or more episodes of coughing in 24 hours Loss or change in the sense of smell or taste Breathing difficulty Feeling tired or exhausted It hurts body Headache Sore throat Clogged or runny nose Loss of appetite Diarrhea Feeling unwell or sick
The NHS says: “The symptoms are very similar to those of other illnesses, such as the common cold and the flu.” If you do not get tested, the NHS advises you to try to stay home and avoid contact with other people for five days after the first symptoms appear and to avoid meeting people who are at higher risk for 10 days. If a child or person aged 18 or under tests positive, they should try to stay home and avoid contact with other people for three days. This starts the day after the test. This is because children and young people tend to be contagious for less time than adults.
Where can I buy lateral flow tests?
The government has an approved list of lateral flow test providers that can be found here, along with contact details. The government says that tests not included in the approved list may also not meet the minimum standards. You can order tests online or pick them up at a local drugstore, including chains such as Boots. Boots said it will offer the devices 2, 2.50 each or £ 12 for a pack of five or £ 17 for a pack of four with the option to send results to the UKHSA.
