Frequently Asked Questions About COVID-19 Testing

Where can I get tested?
How long is a negative COVID-19 test good for?
I tested positive. Now what?
How accurate are antibodies tests?
I'm experiencing symptoms that could be COVID-19. What should I do?
How long should I quarantine after exposure to COVID-19?
How can I know if I've already had COVID?
I don't have symptoms. Why should I be tested?
Is loss of smell a symptom?
Is T-cell testing possible and is it being considered?
Are quick COVID-19 tests reliable?
Should I get an antibodies test?
I think I had the virus months ago, before we started testing. Should I get my antibodies tested?
Once I become infected, how long does it take symptoms to show up?
What should I do if I think I've been exposed to COVID?

 

Where can I get tested?

 

Contact your MDVIP-affiliated doctor to discuss testing options. They may be able to test you or can direct you to the best testing site.  

You can also find community-based testing sites for COVID-19 here.

 

How long is a negative COVID-19 test good for? 

 

A negative test means is that you probably were not infected at the time of your test. That does not mean you will not get sick, according to the CDC.  

In fact, you might test negative if the sample was collected early in your infection, and test positive later during your illness. You also can be exposed to the virus after your test and become sick.

This fact sheet from the FDA provides more information.  

 

I tested positive. Now what?

 

If you test positive, the first thing you should do is contact your MDVIP-affiliated physician. They'll want to know and can provide you guidance on how you can take care of yourself and protect others from catching the disease.

The CDC also has a guide for people who test positive, which includes the following: 

• Stay home except to get medical care.
• Separate yourself from other people.
• Monitor your symptoms.
• Call ahead before visiting your doctor.
• Wear a mask over your nose and mouth.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes. 
• Clean your hands often.
• Avoid sharing personal household items.
• Clean all “high-touch” surfaces everyday.

 

How accurate are antibody tests?

 

Antibody tests are designed to determine if you have already had COVID-19. It should not be used to diagnose an active infection. Antibody tests have been shown to vary vastly in their rate of accuracy depending on the manufacturer and mechanism of the test. 

The FDA is working with the National Cancer Institute to independently evaluate various antibody tests. In their findings, lateral flow (finger prick) tests have been shown to have clinically unacceptable performance and many have been removed from the market. Laboratory tests, which typically take blood from a vein, were more accurate than point-of-care tests, which typically use finger pricks.

For more information on authorized serology tests visit this site.

  Diagnostic tests are considered more accurate than antibody tests. In fact, sometimes a second antibody test is needed for accurate results, according to the FDA.

Here's more information on antibody tests.

 

I'm experiencing symptoms that could be COVID-19. What should I do?

 

If you have a fever, cough, chills, fatigue, aches, headache, loss of taste/smell, sore throat, nasal congestion, nausea or GI issues, you might have COVID-19 and should contact your physician immediately. 

If you're symptoms are more severe, such as breathing difficulties, chest pain/pressure, inability to stay awake, new confusion or bluish lips/skin, call 9-1-1. If the emergency department at your local hospital is concerned you have COVID-19, they will test you. 

Until you know for sure that you have COVID-19, you can prevent the spread of it by washing your hands, cleaning commonly used surfaces, covering coughs/sneezes, wearing masks and self-quarantining. 

Here's more on what to do if you are sick with COVID-19.

 

How long should I quarantine after exposure to COVID-19? 

 

If you've been in close contact with some who has COVID-19, the CDC recommends staying home for 14 days after your last contact with person infected with COVID-19.

You should also watch for fever (100.4 degrees or higher), cough, shortness of breath or other symptoms of COVID-19. If possible, stay away from others, especially people who are at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19. 

What does the CDC mean by close contact? You were closer than 6 feet to some who had an active infection for 15 or more minutes; you provide care for someone at home who has COVID-19; you hugged or kissed or shared eating or drinking utensils with someone who has COVID-19; or they sneezed, coughed or got respiratory droplets on you.

Here are more details on quarantining after COVID-19 exposure. 

 

How can I know if I've already had COVID?

 

In general, a positive antibody test is presumed to mean a person has been infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, at some point in the past. 

It does not mean they are currently infected. An antibody test may not show if you have a current COVID-19 infection because it can take between one and three weeks after infection for your body to make antibodies. 

Here’s more about antibody tests.

 

I don't have symptoms. Why should I be tested?

 

In general, asymptomatic individuals may be tested for COVID-19 with recent known or suspected exposure to SARS-CoV-2 to control the spread of the virus. 

Asymptomatic individuals may also be tested to determine resolution of infection.

 

Is loss of smell a symptom? 

 

Anosmia, or the temporary loss of smell is one of the earliest and most commonly reported indicators of COVID-19.  

The underlying reason for loss of smell in patients with COVID-19 is unclear, but studies suggest that anosmia is a better indicator of the disease than other symptoms such as fever and cough.

COVID-19 patients typically recover their sense of smell over the course of weeks.  

 

Is T-cell testing possible and is it being considered?

 

Scientists are developing a new type of test that can show if someone has developed specific T cells to SARS-CoV-2.

At this point in time, the primary use of this test will be for vaccine development, to determine whether a T cell response to the vaccine has been generated and whether that is adequate to be protective from infection.  

At present, there are no tests for measuring T cells to SARS-CoV-2 in a high throughput manner as these tests are relatively long, laborious and difficult to standardize.

 

Are Quick COVID-19 Tests Reliable?

 

There are two types of diagnostic COVID-19 tests: Antigen tests, which are quick, and molecular tests, such as RT-PCR tests. Both tests are generally performed the same way; a sample is taken from nasal or throat swab.

Antigen tests look for specific proteins on the surface of the virus. RT-PCR tests detect the virus’s genetic material. The antigen test is generally faster, and results can be available in an hour. There are some rapid RT-PCR tests which can be back in a day, but generally this test takes up to a week for results.

For antigen tests, positive results are usually highly accurate but negative results may need to be confirmed with a molecular test, according to the FDA. RT-PCR tests are considered highly accurate. Many of these tests have been submitted to the FDA for approval. The testing companies must prove their test have been validated as set forth by FDA policies. The exact accuracy of each test can vary depending on manufacturer. 

You can read more about the two tests here. 

 

Should I get an antibody test?

 

If you think you had COVID-19 but didn’t get tested and want to know if you were infected, an antibody test can help. Serologic testing can be offered as a method to support diagnosis of acute COVID-19 illness for persons who present 10 to 14 days after illness onset or for persons who had a previous infection of COVID-19.  

Serologic test results should not be used to make decisions about grouping persons residing in or being admitted to congregate settings, such as schools or returning persons to the workplace.

You also should view the positive results of an antibody test as conferring protection. Researchers have already found cases of people who have been reinfected with COVID-19 months after their first infection. 

 

I think I had the virus months ago, before we started testing. Should I get an antibody test? 

 

The presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies indicates a previous infection and possibly at least some degree of short-term immunity or protection against future SARS-CoV-2 infection. 

However, until the durability and duration of immunity are established, it cannot be assumed that individuals who test positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies are protected from future infection. 

 

Once I become infected, how long does it take for symptoms to appear?

 

The time from exposure to symptom onset (known as the incubation period) is thought to be two to 14 days, though symptoms typically appear within four or five days after exposure.  

Symptoms typically subside after 10 days for mild cases, though they can linger for months in some people. 

 

What should I do if I think I've been exposed to COVID?

 

You may be tested for COVID-19 with recent known or suspected exposure to SARS-CoV-2 to control the spread of the virus. We know that a person with COVID-19 may be contagious 48 to 72 hours before starting to experience symptoms.

Emerging research suggests that people may actually be most likely to spread the virus to others during the 48 hours before they start to experience symptoms. 

 The CDC suggests people who have been in close contact with someone who has an active COVID-19 infection should isolate for 14 days after your last contact and watch for symptoms. Avoid those who are at high risk to develop complications from COVID-19.