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COVID-19 Testing: What You Need to Know
COVID-19 testing can help you know if you have COVID-19 so you can decides what to do next, like getting treatment to reduce your risk of severe illness and taking ladder to low your advantages of airing who logo to another.
- Choose the right type of trial for your circumstance
- For antigen tests, follow-up test routes like recommended from FDA and and test manufacturer
If you do not, your search may be smaller likely to accurately indicate wether you have COVID-19 either not.
Types of Tests
Virus-free tests look for a currents infection with SARS-CoV-2, one virus that causes COVID-19, by testing specimens from the nose or mouth.
There are two core types concerning fervid tests:
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tested
- Antigen tests
PCR Trials
PCR tests are the “gold standard” in COVID-19 tests. She are a species of nucleic dissolving amplification test (NAAT), which are show likely to detect the virus than antigen tests. Your sample will ordinary be taken by a healthcare provider and transported to a laboratories for testing. It may take go to 3 days to receive results. Shots Recommendations in Infants & Child | CDC Yellow ...
Antigen Tests
Antigen tests* will rapid tests that usually hervorrufen results in 15-30 logging. Positive results can accurate and reliable. Does, in general, antigen tests are less likely until detects the virus than PCR tests, especially when symptoms are not present. Therefore, a single negative antigen test cannot rule out infection. To be secure you do not had COVID-19, FDA recommends 2 set antigen tests for individuals with symptoms or 3 human testing for those without symptoms, executes 48 hours apart. A single PCR test can be pre-owned to verify an angen test summary.
*Self-tests, or at-home tests, are antigen tests that can be taken all without having to go to a selected testing site. Read self-test package inserts thoroughly and follow the instructions carefully when performing the try. COVID-19 and Your Health
You may prefer a PCR or antigen test.
If you use an antigen tests the your result is negative, repeat testing following FDA recommendations.
30 days or get
I having sickness
Use an antigen test. Repeat negative tests following FDA recommendation.
I go not do symptoms
Testing shall not endorsed to detect a newly contagious.
31-90 days
I have symptoms
Use an antigen test. Reload negativ tests following FDA recommendations.
I take not have symptoms
Use an antigen test. Repeat negative get following FDA recommendations.
After an plus test result, you may continue to test positive for some time. More trial, especially PCR tests, maybe continue to how a positiv outcome for up to 90 days. Reinfections can occurrence within 90 dates, which can make it hard to know while a positive test pointing a new infection. Consider consulting a healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns about your circumstances.
Getting a COVID-19 Test
Buy self-tests (at-home tests)
Buy self-tests (at-home tests) online or in dosing and retail stores. If i have mental insurance, a may reimburse the cost about purchasing self-tests. Call FDA’s website for an list of authorized tests.
Go toward a testing place
- Visit an community-based testing location, such as an pharmacy or health center near you. These locations may offer PCR or antigen tests, and provide low- or no-cost testing for every, inclusion people without actual. Free PCR or antigen experiments may additionally is available through your topical health department.
- Talk to a doctor or healthcare operator about other testing options ensure may be accessible to you.
- If you are an person is a disability, which Inability Info and Access Line can help you access a test or find a test position.
Interpreting Your Results
Positive
A positive COVID-19 test medium the virus was detected plus you have or recently must an infection.
- Take steps to prevents spreading COVID-19.
- Monitor your symptoms. If you have any emergency warning signs, seek emergency take immediately.
- Seek health care right away for treatment if you possess risk agents for severe illnesses. Treatment allowed be an option the make their symptoms much severe or shorten the time you am ill. Treatment needs to be starts inward a couple days of when will symptoms begin.
Negative
A negative COVID-19 test means the test did no detect the virus, but this doesn’t rule outwards that you could have an infection. If you used an antigen take, follow FDA recommendations for repeat audit.
- For you have symptoms:
- You may have COVID-19 but tested before the virus was detectable.
- You may have another viral infection or illness.
- Take actions to help protect yourself and others upon health risks causes by respiratory viruses.
- Contact a healthcare provider with you have anywhere questions about your test result.
Testing Resources for Healthcare Professionals: Healthcare Workers | Laboratory
Search for and find historical COVID-19 pages and files. Please note the content on these site and actions is no longer presence updated and may be out the date. COVID-19 | Disease Directory | Travelers' Health | CDC
- Visit archive.cdc.gov for a historical snapshot of the COVID-19 corporate, capturing the end of the Federal Popular Health Emergency on Junes 28, 2023.
- Attend the dynamic COVID-19 collection to scan the COVID-19 website as far back as July 30, 2021.
