A positive rt pcr test for covid 19 test has more weight than a negative test because of the test s high specificity but moderate sensitivity. The accuracy of the test and the pre test probability or estimated risk of disease before testing. Interpreting the result of a test for covid 19 depends on two things.
Whether you test positive or negative for covid 19 you still should take preventive. So you could have it but the test may not show it for a while. It could take about five days after you are exposed to the virus for it to show up enough in a sample from your nose to be detected by this test.
However your results do not rule out covid 19. Therefore it is also likely that you may be placed in isolation to avoid spreading the virus to others. If you have a positive test result it is very likely that you have covid 19.
What does it mean if i have a positive test result. The results of this test may help limit the spread of covid 19 to your family and others in your community. The coronavirus aid relief and economic security cares act cares act section 18115 pdf icon external icon and its implementation guidance require every covid 19 testing site to report every diagnostic and screening test performed to detect sars cov 2 or to diagnose a possible case of covid 19 e g molecular antigen antibody to the appropriate state or local public health.
However that does not mean you will not get sick. If you test negative for covid 19 by a viral test you probably were not infected at the time your sample was collected. If you test positive for covid 19 by a viral test know what protective steps to take if you are sick or caring for someone.
If you had a test but have not had symptoms self isolate for 10 days from when you had. If you had a test because you had symptoms keep self isolating for at least 10 days from when your symptoms started. If your test is positive you must self isolate.
A positive result means you had coronavirus when the test was done.
