BEWARE A FALSE NEGATIVE ON YOUR DIY COVID TEST

A READER wrote to tell me they’d suffered a cold and lost their sense of taste and smell. Recognising this as a classic Covid symptom, they took a test but it came back negative.

Firstly, it’s important not to rule out Covid. Even the most accurate test, a PCR, sometimes gives a false negative result.

This can particularly be the case when you have to take a swab yourself at home, as it can be tricky to do correctly.

If you are suffering Covid symptoms and get a negative result from a DIY test, I’d recommend you get another one done at a walk-in centre.

Of course it might not be Covid – changes to your senses of smell and taste are not uncommon after a regular cold.

However, if things don’t return to normal after a few weeks, make an appointment to see your GP as it could be a sign of something more serious.