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I'm still producing positive LFTs and I first tested positive with one on 24 September!
Woah! So you've had to isolate for all that time?
Is that a normal length of time?
mashton-
No, you just have to isolate for the 10 days from you first positive test. I think they say you shouldn't test for 90 days once you are positive. I guess it is because it is still in your system but you are not infectious
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Woah! So you've had to isolate for all that time?
Yeah it's been mega boring, I feel like Julian Assange...
No fortunately not, as @rj says 10 days since positive test, plus something to do with symptoms, tbh I wasn't really feeling like doing much for a bit anyway so all a bit academic.
I guess it is because it is still in your system but you are not infectious
My cod science conclusion is that Covid-contaminated snot is still leaving my system. There may be something in this as the few times I've actually managed a negative LFT I've been unusually snot free, then gone back to being snotty again. I'm almost snot free now so I'm hoping my Christmas present will be a negative LFT.
I definitely don't still have it - got better, got supercold, got better again, plus the PCR I took yesterday due to the close contact came back negative.
rj
Fox
The key thing is suspected vs. confirmed omicron.
When the initial PCR test goes to the lab it will be tested for an S-gene dropout. If there is an S-gene dropout, it's probably omicron, but as Chris Witty explained on the TV the other day not all S-gene dropouts are omicron - the test has to be sequenced to know for sure.
Therefore if your PCR test picks up an S-gene dropout, you'll be told that you are a suspected test. If your test is then sequenced (I think all suspected cases will be, at least for the moment, although not sure how sustainable this is given sequencing capacity) and if omicron is found you'll be a confirmed case.
The gov. guidance says:
So suspected cases are treated like confirmed ones until confirmed otherwise.
Sorry to hear you've got it anyway. Not that surprised that your LFTs missed it - it took a week for me to test positive with a LFT and like you I'd been merrily going about my business presuming I was alright.
However, if you're anything like me, prepare for positive LFTs for a LONG time. I'm still producing positive LFTs and I first tested positive with one on 24 September!