If you are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19, treatment is available to prevent your illness from becoming worse leading to hospitalization and death.Talk with your healthcare provider to get more information about the range of options. Several types of treatment are available, which may be used at different times or in different groups of patients. See this important information Treatments are Available Because of this, expired test kits could give inaccurate or invalid test results.ĬOVID-19 test manufacturers perform studies to show how long after manufacturing COVID-19 tests perform as accurately as the day the test was manufactured. The expiration date for an at-home COVID-19 diagnostic test may be extended beyond the date printed on the outer box or package as additional data is collected. This is because COVID-19 tests, and the parts they are made of, may break down over time. Check the expiration dateĪt-home COVID-19 tests have expiration dates. If you receive a positive result initially or after a repeat test, this means the test detected the SARS-CoV-2 virus and you most likely have COVID-19. Positive antigen test results are typically accurate. See detailed guidance about repeat testing. Repeat testing reduces the risk an infection may be missed and to help prevent people from unknowingly spreading the virus. COVID-19 antigen tests may not detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus early in an infection, meaning testing soon after you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 could lead to a false-negative result (this means the test did not detect the virus when a person is infected), especially if you don't have symptoms. Take steps to protect yourself and others.Ī negative COVID-19 test means the test did not detect the virus, but this doesn’t rule out that you could have an infection. Most at-home COVID-19 antigen tests do not detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus as well as molecular tests, like PCR tests. If both tests are negative, then repeat testing after another 48 hours for a total of three tests.Ĭontinue to take steps to protect yourself and others, including monitoring for symptomsĪ positive COVID-19 test means the virus was detected and you have an infection. Test again 48 hours after your first test. Getting a laboratory molecular-based test (PCR).Ĭontinue to take steps to protect yourself and others.Testing again 48 hours after the second test.Test again 48 hours after your first test. If you get a negative result on the second test and you are concerned that you could have COVID-19 you may consider: Test at least 5 full days after your exposure. You were exposed to someone with COVID-19 Appointments are required. Call 70 to schedule a testing appointment. The Health Department offers COVID-19 testing at its clinics to people who have symptoms, to those who do not have access to testing options available in the community, and to those identified as close contacts. Use this Virginia Department of Health (VDH) tool to search for a testing site in Virginia near you. Places such as pharmacies, urgent care centers, community health centers, and community-based clinics across the region also offer testing. Contact a Health Care ProviderĬall your health care provider to discuss your symptoms and get scheduled for a test. You may have options for finding free at home tests free at-home tests. Self-tests for COVID-19 give rapid results and can be taken anywhere.Īt-home tests can be purchased at pharmacies and other retailers. Consider testing before an event or visiting someone higher risk for severe illness, even when you don’t have symptoms or a recent exposure to COVID-19. Test as close to the time of the event as possible (at least within 1-2 days).Īt-home testing allows a person to collect a specimen and perform either a molecular or antigen test according to directions provided with the kit.If you are in certain high-risk settings, you may need to test as part of a screening testing program.If you test too early, you may be more likely to get an inaccurate result. If you were exposed to COVID-19 and do not have symptoms, wait at least 5 full days after your exposure before testing.If you have symptoms, test immediately.Key times to get tested for COVID-19 include:
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