This is very encouraging. While it's clear when someone receives a strong single line or a double line, many people don't know what a faint line means on their lateral flow tests. Even if the line next to the T is extremely faint, that still means your test is positive. There is "some room for error" with those rapid tests, Karan says. Do you have a story for The Sun news desk? WebVery faint positive antigen tests more than two months after COVID? However, if a line appears after the interpretation window, then this does not count as a positive test. 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 pay for videos too. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. With many households now regularly ordering self-testing kits, some people have been left confused when a faint line appears in the result window. We pay for videos too. The spike in cases comes after the legal requirement to self-isolate was dropped in England, although the Government and NHS are still recommending people stay at home and avoid contact with others after testing positive. In the weeks after that, I get a very faint line on the T. Almost a gray line, not even pink. It was confirmed a few days later that I was positive Sorry to be a party pooper, but according to experts, you should still assume you're positive and continue to isolate yourself. With the convenience and "However, if a line appears *after* the interpretation window then this does NOT count as a positive test. A change from negative to positive can occur within hours, experts have shown. There were concerns raised by South African scientists that the lateral flow tests would not be able to pick up the Omicron variant, growing rapidly in the UK. So what would a faintly positive test result mean outside the 30-minute mark, if not Covid? Fulham's Pereira stretchered off with suspected broken leg in worrying scenes, One dead and seven injured as knifeman goes on bloody rampage near club, 'Meghan killed me - then she mourns me', says estranged dad Thomas Markle, Reality star bravely comes out as bisexual after stint on Channel 4 show, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. "In general, a darker line is a result of more virus [on the swab]," says Malani. Twice-weekly testing for staff and students in education and childcare has already ended. Doctors generally agree that this means you have COVID-19. Defining the line: The short answer is yes. The Law Did Not Treat Them Kindly. "The tests aren't really meant to be read an hour later," says Malani. Although NHS guidance says you do not need to self isolate if your lateral flow test is negative, if you have a faint positive line, Dr Peacock advised to be extra precautious. I felt a little tired, had no temperature, and my legs hurt a bit. What does a faint line on your lateral flow test mean? A study published in the Clinical Epidemiology journal in October 2021, conducted by researchers from the University College London, Liverpool University, Harvard University and the University of Bath, found that lateral flow tests are more than 80 per cent effective at identifying positive Covid-19 cases. The C stands for control and the T stands for test. "Now, if you're feeling great the next day and your test is negative, maybe it was nothing. If you have Covid symptoms, lateral flows are less reliable as they can be associated with false negatives, often leading the person to believe that they dont have Covid when in fact they do.. It also comes ahead of the Government scrapping the provision of free Covid tests, meaning you will soon have to pay to check if you have the virus.