[Lewis Thomson (OP)]

Michelle would like some help with this question.

"I’ve had positive covid laterals continuously for 25 weeks now. I got two negative pcrs but I think that’s because I took them to late as my laterals were negative in the beginning. My tests are ok as husband testing at same time negative. Why is this still happening? And will I have any long term effects from it as one women in same position went on to have Leukemia."

Discuss in the comments below...

[Bored chemist]

Ask a doctor, not a web page.

[evan_au]

will I have any long term effects from it as one women in same position went on to have Leukemia

So far as we know, COVID does not cause leukemia.

But there are several conditions (including leukemia) that can interfere with your immune system, and prevent you from eliminating COVID infection. None of them are pleasant prospects, so you should definitely see your doctor.
- Rejection suppression for transplant patients
- Long-term Steroids
- Uncontrolled AIDS/HIV
- Cancer treatments like chemotherapy or radiation therapy

For patients in this situation who do not overcome COVID, the virus keeps mutating to stay ahead of the residual immune system, racking up new mutations every week or two.
- It is possible that there are so many mutations that the regular PCR test no longer responds (it is extremely specific)
- It is possible that there are not too many mutations that it blocks the lateral flow test (they are less specific)
- It may require RNA sequencing (an extra step on top of regular PCR testing)

Radiolab had an episode about a cancer patient in this situation - listen (29 minutes) or read the transcript; don't get put off by the monotonous numbers and letters at the beginning - it gets better after that! :
https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/radiolab/articles/dispatch-14-covid-crystal-ball

[evan_au]

The obvious questions:
- are you doing the test correctly (eg waiting the right amount of time, checking for two lines, not just one, etc)?
- Have the tests been stored correctly (not out of date, not exposed to excessive temperatures, etc)?

[Petrochemicals]

My cousin, who suffered a serious health setback some 30 years ago when he was in his 20s has currently had positive covid tests for about 12 weeks ish. He has serious hangovers from his illness that involved lymph node removal. I believe a record I saw recently. He is not particularly unwell unlike the person with the record.

https://www.livescience.com/longest-covid-infection-505-days

[set fair]

It is possible that something other than antigens are causing the positive results. You should try and get some more PCR tests.

If it is something other than antigens giving the positive results, you might try to experiment with your diet eg eat nothing but Lidl's low sugar granola and milk for 5 days, drink just water and tea and take a one a day muti vitamin and mineral tablet and see if that makes a difference. If it does you are probably in the clear and should go back to your regular diet.