A viral test tells you if you have a current infection. Two types of viral tests can be used: nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) and antigen tests. An antibody test (also known as a serology test) might tell you if you had a past infection.

How can I get a viral test for COVID-19?

• Visit your state, tribal, localexternal icon, or territorial health department’s website to look for the latest local information on testing.
• Visit your healthcare or public health department clinic provider to get a self-collection kit or self-test.
• You and your healthcare provider might consider either self-collection kit or a self-test if you have symptoms of COVID-19 and can’t get tested by a healthcare provider.

What is the difference between the types of tests available for COVID-19?

There are two different types of tests – diagnostic tests and antibody tests. A diagnostic test can show if you have an active coronavirus infection and should take steps to quarantine or isolate yourself from others.

Currently there are two types of diagnostic tests – molecular (RT-PCR) tests that detect the virus's genetic material, and antigen tests that detect specific proteins on the surface of the virus. Samples are typically collected with a nasal or throat swab, or saliva collected by spitting into a tube.

An antibody test looks for antibodies that are made by the immune system in response to a threat, such as a specific virus. Antibodies can help fight infections. Antibodies can take several days or weeks to develop after you have an infection and may stay in your blood for several weeks after recovery.

What does a negative COVID-19 test result mean?

A negative test result for this test means that SARS- CoV-2 RNA was not present in the specimen or the RNA concentration was below the limit of detection. However, a negative result does not rule out COVID-19 and should not be used as the sole basis for treatment or patient management decisions.

Can COVID-19 spread through sexual intercourse?

Although COVID-19 has been detected in semen and feces, currently we do not think that the virus is spread through the sexual act. But, given that the virus is spread through respiratory droplets—which are much more likely to be shared when in close contact with another person—many sexual acts will be considered high risk. So, as the New York City Department of Health details in its safer sex and COVID-19 fact sheet, minimizing risks by exploring other avenues of meaningful interaction is suggested and recommended.

How Coronavirus Antibody, Genetic And Antigen Tests Work

35 related questions found

How safe is intimacy with a partner during the COVID-19 pandemic?

If both of you are healthy and feeling well, are practicing social distancing and have had no known exposure to anyone with COVID-19, touching, hugging, kissing, and sex are more likely to be safe. Similarly, sharing a bed with a partner who is healthy should not be an issue.

Be aware, though, that the CDC reports that some people may have the virus and not yet have symptoms during the early part of the incubation period (presymptomatic). Additionally, some people never develop obvious symptoms of COVID-19 (asymptomatic). In either case, it’s possible that the virus might spread through physical contact and intimacy.

What should you look for after being intimate with someone new during the COVID-19 pandemic?

After a close, high-risk encounter like sex, you should be mindful of your personal risk of contracting and falling ill to COVID-19 as well as the risk you may pose to those in your own circle. I recommend monitoring yourself closely for any symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, shortness of breath, cough, fatigue, the loss of taste and smell). Also, consider getting a COVID-19 test five to seven days after the interaction. I would also refrain from interacting with any at-risk persons within a 14 day period after the encounter. If you cannot avoid contact with a high-risk individual, take precautions to lower your risk profile by social distancing, choosing to interact with the individual in outdoor spaces as opposed to indoor spaces, and wearing a mask.

Does a negative result for COVID-19 test mean I don't have the virus?

You can test negative for COVID-19 and still have it. A nasal swab test is merely a snapshot in time. In other words, receiving a negative COVID-19 test result today doesn't mean you definitely don't have the virus, but rather that there wasn't enough virus collected to register as a positive at the time of your test.

Does a negative result rule out the possibility of COVID-19?

A negative result does not rule out COVID-19 and should not be used as the sole basis for treatment or patient management decisions. A negative result does not exclude the possibility of COVID-19.

Can someone test negative and later test positive on a viral test for COVID-19?

Yes, it is possible. You may test negative if the sample was collected early in your infection and test positive later during this illness. You could also be exposed to COVID-19 after the test and get infected then. Even if you test negative, you still should take steps to protect yourself and others. See Testing for Current Infection for more information.

Are saliva tests just as effective as nasal swabs to diagnose COVID-19?

Saliva testing for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is as effective as the standard nasopharyngeal tests, according to a new study by investigators at McGill University.

Which is more accurate nasopharyngeal or nasal swab for COVID-19 testing?

In other words, you are more likely to obtain a more accurate diagnosis when sampling with the nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs than you are with a nasal or throat swab.” For this reason, the nasopharyngeal swab has been the standard for reliable testing.

Is there a diagnostic test for COVID-19?

Yes, the FDA has issued Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) for different types of COVID-19 tests. Some tests are used to diagnose the virus that causes COVID-19 infection whereas other tests are used to detect a recent or prior COVID-19 infection.

What do the COVID-19 viral test results mean?

If you test positive, know what protective steps to take to prevent others from getting sick.

If you test negative, you probably were not infected at the time your sample was collected. The test result only means that you did not have COVID-19 at the time of testing. Continue to take steps to protect yourself.

When are antigen tests the better option to screen for COVID-19?

The clinical performance of diagnostic tests largely depends on the circumstances in which they are used. Both antigen tests and NAATs perform best if the person is tested when their viral load is generally highest. Because antigen tests perform best in symptomatic people and within a certain number of days since symptom onset, antigen tests are used frequently on people who are symptomatic. Antigen tests also may be informative in diagnostic testing situations in which the person has a known exposure to a person with COVID-19.

What are rapid diagnostic tests?

Rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) detect the presence of viral proteins (antigens) expressed by the COVID-19 virus in a sample from the respiratory tract of a person.

If the target antigen is present in sufficient concentrations in the sample, it will bind to specific antibodies fixed to a paper strip enclosed in a plastic casing and generate a visually detectable signal, typically within 30 minutes.

What does a negative COVID-19 antigen test result mean in asymptomatic persons?

Negative test results using a viral test (NAAT or antigen) in asymptomatic persons with recent known or suspected exposure suggest no current evidence of infection. These results represent a snapshot of the time around specimen collection and could change if tested again in one or more days.

How long does it take for symptoms of COVID-19 to appear after exposure?

Symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus.

What does a negative SARS-CoV-2 antibody test mean?

A negative result on a SARS-CoV-2 antibody test means antibodies to the virus were not detected in your sample. It could mean:
• You have not been infected with COVID-19 previously.
• You had COVID-19 in the past but you did not develop or have not yet developed detectable antibodies.

What are some consequences of a false negative or a false positive COVID-19 test?

False negative tests provide false reassurance, and could lead to delayed treatment and relaxed restrictions despite being contagious. False positives, which are much less likely, can cause unwarranted anxiety and require people to quarantine unnecessarily.

Does an antibody test diagnose an active COVID-19?

Antibodies can take several days or weeks to develop after you have an infection and may stay in your blood for several weeks after recovery. Because of this, antibody tests should not be used to diagnose an active coronavirus infection.

Do I need to confirm a negative antigen test with another test if I have the COVID symptoms?

A negative antigen test result for a symptomatic person should be confirmed with a laboratory-based NAAT. A negative antigen result for a symptomatic person may not need confirmatory testing if the person has a low likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 infection (see above).

Does the COVID-19 stay in your clothes?

Viruses similar to coronavirus don't survive well on porous surfaces Despite the little information we have about the survivability of coronavirus on your clothes, we do know a few other helpful things.

Can you get COVID-19 from kissing someone?

It's well known that the coronavirus infects the body's airways and other parts of the body, but new research indicates that the virus also infects mouth cells. You don't want to kiss someone who's got COVID.

What do I need to know to keep myself and others safe when I go to the grocery store during the COVID-19 pandemic?

There are steps you can take to help protect yourself, grocery store workers and other shoppers, such as wearing a face covering, practicing social distancing, and using wipes on the handles of the shopping cart or basket.