A Cautionary tale....

[quanglewangle]

After 4 and a half years of shielding with my Sars-Cov test kit at the ready I attended a family wedding and shortly thereafter got all of the recognised symptom s of COVID.

Temperature swinging from high to sub normal, sore throat, cough, aching joints, headache, weak legs etc

So I broke out the (Getain Biotech) pack and ran the test as per the instruction leaflet and pictograms on the box ....result "VOID". So I did another and another - all "VOID"

Thinking it must be a faulty batch I rang the NHS Scotland and explained the problem and another kit was sent immediately arriving next day (Royal Mail Tracked 24) and started testing ...."VOID again & again

By this time I am on day 3 of my 5 day countdown for antivirals, so I sought advice from NHS Scotland, NHS Inform and GP surgery ,.....no-one could not explain what was wrong - case investigations were startedand eventually someone at the GP seeing pictures of my "Void"s said that 'these are positive results' so off to the local area Health Board and received a promise of a call within 24 hours - and I got a call (day6 .... too late !!!)

The kit illustrates a Positive result as either a red "C" line above a red "T" line or a pink "T" line

All of my results showed a single red "T" line some with the suspicion of an extremely faint "C" line (NOT PINK)

NONE of the posibilites looked like my results and my 5 day antiviral window expired so I am on my own, sleeping loads and swigging the odd Paracetamol as I was encouraged to do.

SO IF YOU ARE ALSO STILL SHIELDING TAKE NOTE

the "C" line does not have to be red, and a red "T" line does not mean that your result is VOID. As long as you have two lines (However faint) THEN YOU ARE POSITIVE..

[ainslie]

If I recall correctly think it does say that on the test kit I have , ie two faint lines are positive

[RoundTheWorld]

I've always found it unhelpful that (on the tests I have used) the C line doesn't indicate 'Covid' but instead the validity of the test.

Then the T line shows whether or not you have Covid.

(as you've worked out I think their second void example is because there is no line showing against C rather than anything to do with the T line).

Hope you feel well soon.

[saltmarsh]

Sorry about that. I too went to a wedding about 2 weeks ago after avoiding such activities for the last 4 years and, of course, I got sick. Covid test came back negative and I chose not to try a second test but ran a fever for 3 days and felt generally awful. Since I've been on HU my body doesn't react well to any cold/flu medication so I just changed my diet and stayed hydrated. It is passing and I was able to take my dog for a long walk this morning but that exhausted me. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be much appreciation or consideration for others in this country who might have health issues so I will go back to limiting my exposure. I did get my covid vaccination a month ago so if it was covid it wasn't too bad. The test distributed here in the US is similar to yours in that the pink line - no matter how faint it is - indicates a positive result.

Hope your recovery proceeds quickly.

[Bluetop]

Thanks for the tip! I have not had any symptoms (yet) of Covid, so until I trial the box, I wont know what I'm looking for. I hope you manage OK on paracetamol and that you are soon feeling on the mend.

[Hydrox]

The other thing to check is the date on the box as I think you have to discard the tests after 2 years.