LAB TEST
COVID-19 virus test
Testing for the virus that causes COVID-19 involves taking a mucus sample from your upper respiratory tract. This test is used to diagnose COVID-19. The COVID-19 virus test is not used to test your immunity to COVID-19. To test if you have antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, you need a COVID-19 antibody test taken from a blood sample.
How the Test is Performed
Testing is usually done in one of two ways. For a nasopharyngeal test, you will be asked to cough before the test begins and then tilt your head back slightly. A sterile, cotton-tipped swab is gently passed through a nostril and into the nasopharynx. This is the uppermost part of the throat, behind the nose. The swab…
How to Prepare for the Test
No special preparation is needed.
How the Test will Feel
Depending on the type of test, you may have slight or moderate discomfort, your eyes may water, and you may gag.
Why the Test is Performed
The test identifies the SARS-CoV-2 virus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2), which causes COVID-19 .
Normal Results
The test is considered normal when it is negative. A negative test means that at the time you were tested, you probably didn't have the virus that causes COVID-19 in your respiratory tract. But you can test negative if you were tested too early after infection for COVID-19 to be detected. And you can have a positive…
What Abnormal Results Mean
A positive test means that you are infected with SARS-CoV-2. You may or may not have symptoms of COVID-19 , the illness caused by the virus. Whether you have symptoms or not, you can still spread the illness to others. You should stay at home away from others until your symptoms are better, and you are free of fever…
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. COVID-19: Interim guidelines for collecting and handling of clinical specimens for COVID-19 testing. www.cdc.gov/covid/hcp/clinical-care/clinical-specimen-guidelines.html . Updated June 4, 2024. Accessed July 24, 2024. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention…
This is a summary. Read the full article at www.ucsfbenioffchildrens.org (reviewed 22/02/2023).
This page is general information and is not medical advice. It does not replace a registered doctor, and it is not a prescription or a recommendation to use any medicine or test. Prices are listed prices and may change. Always follow the advice of your doctor or pharmacist.