You should receive your test results as early as 24 hours after sample collection, but sometimes it can take a few days, depending on how long it takes the sample to reach the laboratory.
How long does it take to get coronavirus test results? Read more about what to do if you test positive and ways to prevent getting infected with COVID-19. If your test is negative, continue to take steps to protect yourself and others from getting COVID-19. If your test is positive, talk with your healthcare provider, stay home and separate yourself from others. A negative test doesn’t mean you are safe for any length of time: You can be exposed to COVID-19 after your test, get infected and spread the SARS-Cov-2 virus to others. For example, this may happen if you recently became infected but you don’t have symptoms yet - or it could happen if you've had COVID-19 for more than a week before being tested. However, it's possible to have COVID-19 but not have the virus detected by the test. Contact your healthcare provider if your symptoms get worse or if you have questions or concerns.Ī negative test result means you probably didn't have an infection with SARS-CoV-2 at the time your specimen was collected. Most people have mild illness and can recover safely at home without medical care. This could be due to asymptomatic infection, but if you have symptoms, then this infection is called COVID-19.
#PCR STANDS FOR SOFTWARE#
Scientists use special software to interpret the signal as a positive test result.Ī positive test result means that it's likely that you have an infection with SARS-CoV-2. Once amplified enough, the PCR machine can detect this signal. One of the chemicals in the tube produces a fluorescent light if SARS-CoV-2 is present in the sample. After many cycles, millions of copies of a small portion of the SARS-CoV-2 virus’s genetic material are present in the test tube. Each heating and cooling cycle increases (amplifies) the amount of the targeted genetic material in the test tube. PCR: The PCR step then uses special chemicals and enzymes and a PCR machine called a thermal cycler.Extraction: When a laboratory scientist receives the sample, they isolate (extract) genetic material from the rest of the material in the sample.After collection, the swab is sealed in a tube and then sent to a laboratory. Either type of swab is sufficient for collecting material for the COVID-19 PCR test. There are different types of nose swabs, including nasal swabs that collect a sample immediately inside your nostrils and nasopharyngeal swabs that go further into the nasal cavity for collection. A swab is a soft tip on a long, flexible stick that goes into your nose. Sample collection: A healthcare provider uses a swab to collect respiratory material found in your nose.There are three key steps to the COVID-19 PCR test: Please check with your healthcare provider if you’re feeling unwell during the COVID-19 pandemic - even if you’ve been vaccinated. And not all symptomatic people develop all of the symptoms listed above. Not everyone with COVID-19 develops symptoms.
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