What does a faint red line on a lateral flow Covid test mean?
Lateral flow Covid tests have proved popular as people test before Christmas and New Year's celebrations - Credit: PA
People testing for coronavirus using rapid lateral flow test kits have reported seeing a faint red line in their result — but what does it mean?
Demand for the home testing kits has surged in recent weeks, with people eager to check if they have Covid before attending any Christmas or New Year's celebrations.
If no red line appears next to the 'T' symbol on the test result, it means the person does likely not have the virus at that time.
But a number of people have expressed confusion as the line may appear faint, rather than a solid red.
According to the government's official guide for self-testing, even the faintest line can suggest the person has Covid.
The guide says: "Two lines, one next to C and one next to T, even faint lines, shows the test is positive. The positive line may be weak. You should hold the test strip up to the light and examine closely to feel confident of the result.
"If you get a positive result, it means you are currently likely infected with coronavirus and risk infecting others."
Most Read
- 1 'Some businesses may not survive Sidmouth roadworks'
- 2 Sidmouth Hospice at Home fulfils local man's final wish
- 3 'We'll have to put up with roadworks for a few weeks'
- 4 Strong demand for properties continues into the new year
- 5 British Heart Foundation shop in Sidmouth urgently seeking volunteers
- 6 Temperatures drop to -5C in Devon - but how's the weekend looking?
- 7 Abolishing BBC licence fee is 'sparpling' from bigger issue
- 8 School steps up safety at road crossing areas
- 9 Members of South West drugs gang jailed for combined 40 years
- 10 Property of the Week: Livonia Road
If no lines or one line next to the 'T' appear, the test is void.
As lateral flow tests are not 100% accurate, people who test positive with them are advised by the government to book a spot at a PCR testing centre.
