Can The PCR Test Pick Up COVID-19 Infection Before Symptoms Appear?
COVID-19Common questionCan the PCR test pick up COVID-19 infection before symptoms appear?When people have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, but don't have symptoms themselves, a PCR test could pick up a low-level infection possibly before people become infectious to others. “That could buy you a little time” to isolate and prevent spreading the virus to others, Gronvall says.
Can a person test negative and later test positive for COVID-19?
Using the CDC-developed diagnostic test, a negative result means that the virus that causes COVID-19 was not found in the person’s sample. In the early stages of infection, it is possible the virus will not be detected.
Coronavirus Information & FAQs
How long should I wait to get tested for COVID-19 after exposure?
Every viral disease has an incubation period—the time from when you were exposed to a pathogen to when it can be detected. Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends waiting five to seven days after exposure to COVID-19 before taking a test.
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What are consequences of a false negative COVID-19 test?
Risks to a patient of a false negative test result include: delayed or lack of supportive treatment, lack of monitoring of infected individuals and their household or other close contacts for symptoms resulting in increased risk of spread of COVID-19 within the community, or other unintended adverse events.
CDC 2019 Novel Coronavirus (nCoV) Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel - Healthcare Provider Fact Sheet
What is a PCR test in the context of COVID-19 testing?
A PCR test stands for polymerase chain reaction test. This is a diagnostic test that determines if you are infected by analyzing a sample to see if it contains genetic material from the virus.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Glossary of Common Terms