Overview Of Coronavirus Antibody Testing
Two kinds of tests are available for COVID-19: viral tests and antibody tests.
● A viral test tells you if you have a current infection.
● An antibody test might tell you if you had a past infection.
What to do after a viral test
To get your test result, please check with the group that performed your tests, such as your healthcare provider or health department. How long it will take to get your test results depends on the test used.
● If you test positive for COVID-19, know what protective steps to take if you are sick.
- Most people have mild COVID-19 illness and can recover at home without medical care. Contact your healthcare provider if your symptoms are getting worse or if you have questions about your health.
● If you test negative for COVID-19, you probably were not infected at the time your sample was collected. This does not mean you will not get sick:
- A negative test result only means that you did not have COVID-19 at the time of testing or that your sample was collected too early in your infection.
- You could also be exposed to COVID-19 after the test and then get infected and spread the virus to others.
- If you have symptoms later, you may need another test to determine if you are infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.
Source
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/testing.html
