New COVID-19 tests are coming to the market quickly, and some are more reliable than others. We consulted experts to bring you answers to the biggest testing questions.
Diagnostic tests start from the same place -- a specimen collected via swab -- but after that, they take separate paths. Andtaken from your nose or throat. That’s gathered by inserting a long swab through your nostril or mouth to the back of your throat, which gets rotated or rubbed against the surface to absorb the secretions.
If you suspect you may have had the virus and want confirmation, talk to your provider about getting an antibody test.False negatives can happen because some tests are more reliable than others, or because of the way the specimen was gathered. For example, getting a swab thrust into the back of your throat can be an unpleasant experience, and if you have trouble tolerating it, the sample might not capture enough material.
“Say Mrs. Jones comes in with possible COVID. If the rapid test is falsely negative, the provider will still tell her that no test is 100% accurate, and she should still go home and self-isolate, wear masks, and so on,” he says. “The guidance hasn’t changed, and you haven’t put other people at risk.”
False negatives become dangerous if a patient disregards the provider’s advice and acts as if the test result means they’re free and clear.Ask your provider. If they don’t know the specifics of the test they’re giving you, they can contact the lab they’re using to get the information. “Folks in the lab are always happy to provide details on the kind of test, the performance characteristics, and so on,” says Procop.
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