LATERAL flow tests are no longer compulsory – but it's still recommended we take them to keep everyone safe from infection.
Even though you no longer legally have to isolate, you still might be worried about catching the virus – or even getting a false positive.
At present, if you test positive then it is no longer a legal requirement to isolate at home.
But it's still recommended that you do so as this will stop the bug spreading to other, more vulnerable people.
Everyone wants to avoid having to isolate, that's why it's important that you make sure you're taking the test correctly, as one doctor has revealed what you drink could make a difference to the result of the test.
When taking a lateral flow test (LFT) you should read the instructions on the box as each one is different and some are made by different manufacturers.
One of the main instructions on most packs though is that you should wait 30 minutes after eating or drinking to take the test.
This is due to the fact that some foods and drinks, such as water and fizzy pop, can interfere with the test.
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Posting to TikTok, Dr Karan Rajan explained why these popular beverages could create a false positive.
The NHS doctor said: "First we need to look inside the lateral flow device.”
He adds: “This grey box and the portion just above it contain antibodies that are sensitive to the Covid-19 virus.
"If you use things like soda, tap water and fizzy drinks, that's going to provide an altered pH, which will affect the function of the antibodies on the test line.
“That is why you need to use this buffer solution (consisting of 99.7 percent saline solution) which provides a stable pH that will actually make the test work."
While cases of Covid are still being reported across the country, most people catching Omicron say they are experiencing symptoms similar to a common cold.
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A string of hugely positive studies show Omicron is milder than other strains, with the first official UK report revealing the risk of hospitalisation is 50 to 70 per cent lower than with Delta.
Covid booster jabs protect against Omicron and offer the best chance to get through the pandemic, health officials have repeatedly said.
As well as jabs, regular testing has become a way of life for Brits.
Experts have previously also explained why a faint line could also be a false positive.
FALSE POSITIVES
Posting a photo of a vaguely positive lateral flow to Instagram, London-based A&E doctor Nathan explained what it could mean.
He said: “Essentially, if *any* line appears before the end of the interpretation window (check leaflet, usually this is 30 minutes), then this is a *positive* test and you must isolate and book a PCR.
“However, if a line appears *after* the interpretation window then this does NOT count as a positive test. You do not need to isolate and you do not need to book a PCR.”
But if you have symptoms, regardless of the lateral flow test result, you should isolate and book a PCR test.
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