It is the only way to know for sure whether you have the illness.
If you choose not to get tested, you may unknowingly pass the virus to others.
You have a couple of options for COVID-19 testing, including rapid tests for testing at home.
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This article covers when to test, types of available tests, test results, and more.
You should test within 24 to 48 hours before the event or visit.
If you are feeling sick, you should test and seek medical care.
you might also test positive if you have a COVID-19 infection without symptoms.
One 2021 research review reportedasymptomatic COVID-19in 40.5% of people who tested positive for the virus.
Not having symptoms should not dissuade you from getting tested for COVID-19.
Furthermore, not everyone with COVID-19 experiences a sore throat.
While rare, it is possible toexperience a sore throat as a lone symptom of COVID-19.
In this case, your illness would be considered mild.
Around 81% of people with COVID-19 report a mild or moderate illness.
Both tests are good at detecting active infections.
Antigen tests are also called rapid tests and can be performed at home or in a clinic.
PCR tests are analyzed in a lab, which may take a few days to get results.
They can also be done at a healthcare provider’s office or a COVID testing site.
They do not need laboratory processing.
you might test at home and get the tests within a short time.
That means getting a negative test does not rule out infection.
Your healthcare provider will take a sample specimen from your nose or mouth for the PCR test.
The sample is then sent to a laboratory for testing.
It may take up to three days for results.
You should also follow the CDC’s guidelines for preventing the spread of the virus.
In this case, you will want to repeat the test.
If you are older or have high-risk health conditions, contact a healthcare provider to consider antiviral treatment.
A negative PCR test means you likely did not have an active COVID-19 infection when the test was taken.
A false negative is more likely than a false positive.
A single PCR test can confirm a rapid test, and no further testing would be needed.
Summary
COVID-19 testing is vital to the treatment and prevention of the virus.
However, determining when to test and which test to use can be challenging.
If you have symptoms, test right away.
Wait five days to test after exposure if you do not have symptoms.
If you have symptoms but test negative, you should test again after 48 hours.
Results are available in around 15 to 30 minutes.
A positive test likely means you have the virus and should take appropriate steps to avoid spreading the infection.
If you tested negative with a rapid home test, you should wait 48 hours before retesting.
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