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After a positive test result, you may continue to test positive for some time after. You may continue to test positive on antigen tests for a few weeks after your initial positive. You may continue to test positive on NAATs for up to 90 days.
Stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from others in your home. Tell your close contacts. Wear a well-fitted mask when around others. If available, a N95 or KN95 respirator is recommended.
PCR tests are very accurate when properly performed by a health care professional, but the rapid test can miss some cases.
It's possible to have a positive test result even if you never had any symptoms of COVID-19 . False-positive test results can occur. It may be that the test detected antibodies to a coronavirus closely related to the COVID-19 virus or that the test quality was flawed.
The antiviral drugs Paxlovid (ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir) and Veklury (remdesivir) are the preferred treatments for eligible adult and pediatric patients with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19.
If you test positive for COVID-19, stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from others in your home. You are likely most infectious during these first 5 days. Wear a high-quality mask if you must be around others at home and in public. Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask.
RT-PCR tests are not perfect, Alland said. “After the first week of infection, there is a decline in virus shedding in the respiratory tract, where tests can become falsely negative,” he said.
“PCR tests are more reliable and accurate due to testing the specific genetic material of the virus, eliminating the interference from other viruses,” said Heather Seyko, a Laboratory Services manager for OSF HealthCare.
PCR tests are more accurate than antigen tests. "PCR tests are the gold standard for detecting SARS-CoV-2," says Dr. Broadhurst. "It is the most accurate testing modality that we have.
The investigators also point out that false-positives are possible due to administering the test too early or late in the infectious stage, or from incorrectly performing the self-test.
A false-positive antigen test result means that the test says the person has COVID-19 but they are actually do not have COVID-19.
A faint line also can mean the tester didnt swab well enough to provide a good test sample. A brighter line indicates the patient has more virus in their body and is likely to be sicker and more infectious.
Most people have mild illness and are able to recover at home.
After a positive test result, you may continue to test positive for some time after. You may continue to test positive on antigen tests for a few weeks after your initial positive. You may continue to test positive on NAATs for up to 90 days.
Contact a healthcare provider right away to determine if you are eligible for treatment, even if your symptoms are mild right now. Don't delay: Treatment must be started within days after you first develop symptoms to be effective.
If possible, have the person who is sick use a separate bedroom and bathroom. If possible, have the person who is sick stay in their own “sick room” or area and away from others. Try to stay at least 6 feet away from the sick person.