If you develop any symptoms that might signal COVID-19, you should take a home test immediately, the CDC says. But how to interpret your results isn't always obvious. But because we are still in the midst of a pandemic, it's a good idea to take a test to help rule out COVID-19 first, even if you may just be dealing with seasonal allergies. For some people, theyre seeing fairly prolonged courses of being antigen-positive, Dr. Grad said. Landon says it's extra information that can give you a sense of how to proceed, especially if people are banking on the CDC guidance to determine whether to end isolation. Added information around the management of persons who may have prolonged viral shedding after recovery. Researchers in the U.K. used a newly adapted test to find that some people who contract SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, could still transmit the virus to All rights reserved. So why do some people test positive for the virus for 10 or 12 or even 14 days and are they still infectious after so long? Slate is published by The Slate Group, a Graham Holdings Company. Along those lines, Dr. Chin-Hong recommended using the rapid test as a guide but not the be-all and end-all.. Symptomatic people who test positive can re-enter the community after a period of isolation of at least 10 days from the onset of symptoms, accompanied by a negative molecular or antigenic test after at least 3 days without symptoms (not counting changes in smell and taste). A Boston University study revealed that just 17% of people were likely still contagious six days after their first positive tests. And, in the U.S., COVID-19 cases are climbing just as fast. Its probably a good idea, Researchers determine how long someone can be infectious by taking samples from someone who has tested positive for the virus, and trying to grow an infectious virus from it. And, taking the new CDC guidelines And that's particularly true for people who keep testing positive late into their infections. "Only about 17% of those who we looked at still had what looks like viable COVID out past five days," says Dr. Karen Jacobson, an infectious disease specialist at the Boston University School of Medicine and one of the study's authors. Doctors. Depending on your symptoms and exposure, you may want to take a third rapid test another 48 hours after that, the FDA says. Precisely why some people test positive longer than others is not entirely known. Its a great question its one that I get asked all the time, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco. In certain high-risk congregate settings that have high risk of secondary transmission, CDC recommends a 10-day isolation period for residents. And since we know that some people can have prolonged courses, it seems reasonable to me that if you are able to continue isolating if positive, you should do so.. Considering that different tests may perform differently, and then you have all these variants, youre changing the variables of the equation over and over again, says Paniz-Mondolfi, who also leads the Saliva COVID Test Lab at Mount Sinai. Chan School of Public Health. For details on when to get tested for COVID-19, see Test for Current Infection. Another possibility is that people exposed to large doses of the virus might take longer to clear it from their systems, said Aubree Gordon, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. recommends that people with weakened immune systems isolate for up to 20 days. Persons in the general public who test positive on day 10 may leave isolation after 10 days regardless of their test result. (Preprints are preliminary reports or studies that have not been peer-reviewed yet, so the data has not been vetted by the wider scientific community.). However, if you test positive with a lateral flow test on day 10 of your isolation period, you can still stop self-isolating. "You can still have positivity that may persist for weeks and even months," he explains, noting that positive tests on PCR have been recorded for up to 60 days. To prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission, see CDCs recommended prevention strategies. Click Check Out Now. The Omicron variant of the coronavirus moves fast. And, if you're in high-risk situations on a trip (like a crowded indoor party), the CDC recommends taking a rapid test when you get back. ", Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. In a small, preliminary subanalysis, the Boston University researchers found that while a negative antigen test was a reliable indicator that the person would also have negative viral cultures, a positive test was not predictive of a positive culture. To receive email updates about COVID-19, enter your email address: We take your privacy seriously. "That explains a lot of the variation across studies, but I think it's still pretty consistent as an overall finding that if you're antigen positive, then you're quite likely to be infectious," he says. Or you might be dealing with what's known as a Paxlovid rebound. "The FDA has now suggested that some of these home tests really require serial testing if you're testing negative to get the best, most accurate results," Volk explains. Follow CDC guidance and wear a mask for the following five days, she said. But exactly how contagious you are will change depending on where you are in the infection, he explains. Some of those symptoms congestion, sore throat, cough, fever might be easily confused with other common illnesses, such as the flu, allergies, RSV or the common cold. "So reading the labels of those medicines you might get over the counter is also important.". If you're concerned about how long you've been testing positive, check in with a health care provider for their guidance on your situation, the doctor said. Some doctors assert the safest course of action is to remain in isolation until you test negative. With PCR tests, which look for the virus's genetic material, people may test positive for even longer, Dr. Alberto Paniz-Mondolfi, associate professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, tells TODAY.com. In the most general terms, people will likely test positive on an at-home rapid COVID-19 test for about six to 10 days, Dr. Stephen Kissler, a postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard T.H. That makes it difficult to predict exactly how many days someone will test positive. If it's essential that you start interacting with other people again (due to your job, for example), assess how you can do so as safely as possible. But for some people, the virus seems to linger, with at-home tests coming back positive day after day, even after other people in the household return to work or school. So if there's a gap of weeks or months in between your positive tests, you might actually have a new infection. You can leave isolation after five days if you never developed symptoms or if you had symptoms that are improving (including at least 24 hours without a fever and without the use of fever-reducing medications), the CDC says. And some of their expiration dates have been extended even further, the Food and Drug Administration says. If your symptoms aren't improving after five days of isolation, you should stay isolated until you're feeling better and you've gone 24 hours without a fever (and without using fever-reducing medications). If you test negative on a rapid antigen test, Researchers at the University of Chicago Medicine released preprint data on Medrxiv indicating that despite feeling well enough to work, more than 40% of vaccinated healthcare workers still tested positive for COVID-19 five to 10 days after their symptoms began.. It states: You can return to your normal routine and stop self-isolating after 10 full days if your symptoms have gone, or if the only symptoms you have are a cough or anosmia [change or loss of smell], which can last for several weeks. Depending on your symptoms and exposure, you may want to take a third rapid test another 48 hours after that, the FDA says. If you're still testing positive outside the 10-day window, it may have to do with what type of test you're using. "You'd be erring on the side of caution if you followed the test and said, 'I'm not going to leave my isolation until after my test is negative,'" she says. Her study found that a negative rapid antigen test on day five is a "perfect" indicator of whether the virus could be cultured in a lab. They found that more than half of them still tested positive on antigen tests after six days. After 10 days, nobody in the study had infectious virus detectable on a PCR test. Generally, most people who get infected are not still testing positive on an antigen test 10 days after symptom onset. For healthcare settings, please see Managing Healthcare Personnel with SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel. Taking a rapid test can also help you determine whether to spend time with people who are particularly vulnerable to severe COVID-19 symptoms, like those with certain underlying health conditions. A preprint study of close to 100 vaccinated college students at Boston University suggests that a majority were no longer infectious after five days. How long COVID-19 stays in the body varies from person to person. For example, one study analyzing data from a testing site in San Francisco during the January omicron surge suggests that many people were still testing positive after five days. But this is asking a lot of folks, she adds. And, in the U.S., COVID-19 cases are climbing just as fast. But because we are still in the midst of a pandemic, it's a good idea to take a test to help rule out COVID-19 first, even if you may just be dealing with seasonal allergies. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. Taking a rapid test can also help you determine whether to spend time with people who are particularly vulnerable to severe COVID-19 symptoms, like those with certain underlying health conditions. Additionally, if youre caring for an immunocompromised person, you probably want to test negative first. The incubation period for COVID is said to be two to 14 days, with an individual considered infectious starting two days before they develop symptoms or two days before the date of their positive test, if they do not have symptoms. As long as you continue to test positive on a rapid at-home test, you should still consider yourself potentially contagious, Kissler says. But if you feel fine, it can be frustrating to wait, especially if you're in the subset of those who test positive past 10 days. The most frequent symptoms these days include sore throat, runny nose, congestion and sneezing. "We see a ton of variation between people in how long they test positive," he explains. "While that average is closer to six to 10 days, there are people who will hang on for longer than that.". In general, people with weaker immune systems are likely to take longer to fight off the virus, scientists said, although even young, healthy and fully vaccinated people may be positive for extended periods. That's partly due to the fact that two newish variants are causing more than half of all cases in the country, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The winter holiday season came and went quickly. The question is especially vexing if you're feeling better, but still testing positive on a rapid test. "Those PCR tests are very sensitive," she explained. If its on or near day 5 of your isolation and youre still testing positive, the CDC recommends you continue staying home and away from others for an additional five If you have to be around others, you should wear a high-quality mask, such as a N95 or KN95 respirator. 3. "The FDA has now suggested that some of these home tests really require serial testing if you're testing negative to get the best, most accurate results," Volk explains. But this is asking a lot of folks, she adds. If you dont, then theres no point in doing the test. Webyou tested positive for COVID-19 but have no symptoms For 10 days after your symptoms started, last day of exposure, or positive test result: self-monitor for new or worsening symptoms seek testing (if eligible) if you develop any new or different symptoms wear a well-fitted mask as much as possible in all public settings, unless: And, of course, if you're concerned about how long you've been testing positive, check in with a health care provider for their guidance on your individual situation, Kissler advises. Re-testing for SARS-CoV-2 infection is suggested if symptoms worsen or return after ending isolation and precautions. "So far, the recommendation from the CDC has been that even if people continue to test positive if it's after 10 days, that that is still the end of their isolation You can be somewhat reassured by a negative test, but the positive test is not particularly helpful, said Dr. Tara Bouton, an infectious disease specialist at the Boston University School of Medicine and an author of the study. And, of course, if you're concerned about how long you've been testing positive, check in with a health care provider for their guidance on your individual situation, Kissler advises. Here's what to know. Jasmine Reed, a CDC spokeswoman, says most COVID-19 patients test positive at five days, and a fairly large percentage test positive after 10 days. It is safest to continue to isolate until you no longer test positive, the experts stressed. If you get a positive test on a home rapid antigen test, you can trust the result, Volk says, provided you performed the test correctly. And tests may be available at community health centers for people who dont have insurance. If you develop any symptoms that might signal COVID-19, you should take a home test immediately, the CDC says. Even with a rapid test, which detects molecules on the virus's surface as opposed to the virus's genetic material, it's not unheard of for people to test positive up to 14 days, especially for those who are unvaccinated, Kissler says. In a study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases in June, researchers found that 17% of participants had active viral cultures beyond day five. Many of the at-home tests the government sends out, as well as those you may have purchased, are good to use for six months or more. However, Dr. Stephen Kissler, a postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard T.H. You should never do a test unless you are prepared to deal with the results of the test and you know how to interpret a positive or negative, Colgrove told me. Other factors, such as end-stage renal disease, likely pose a lower degree of immunocompromise, and there might not be a need to follow the recommendations for those with moderate to severe immunocompromise. You can get your COVID-19 booster and flu shot at the same time. Sarah Jacoby is a health reporter at TODAY. And the CDC notes that this approach may mean you wear a mask around others for longer than 10 days. "If you are thinking about going to the nursing home to visit your grandmother, this is not the time to do it," she says. All contents 2023 The Slate Group LLC. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. "You can still have positivity that may persist for weeks and even months," he explains, noting that positive tests on PCR have been recorded for up to 60 days. Even with the arrival of new subvariants, the basic ground rules haven't changed since omicron first came onto the scene: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says someone can stop isolating after five days if they're fever-free for 24 hours and are starting to get better as long as they keep wearing a mask around others for another five days. About 10% will test negative then positive again. You might be able to begin slowly sort of reintegrating while still being mindful of your contact," Kissler said. Research also suggests that rapid antigen tests are most likely to be positive early in the course of illness, but there is considerable variation. If you must interact with others before testing negative, make sure to wear a high-quality mask, maintain distance from other people when you can, and avoid spending time in enclosed spaces around other people. "They keep picking up dead virus in your nose for sometimes for weeks, but you can't grow that virus in the lab. While the old guidelines recommended that patients isolate for 10 days, the current recommendations say that many people can leave isolation after five days, although they should wear a mask through Day 10. "What folks really need to understand is that right now we are in flu season and RSV season and we still have COVID hanging around," Dr. Emily Volk, president of the College of American Pathologists, tells TODAY.com. These two coronavirus variants, called BQ.1 and BQ.1.1, are both subvariants of omicron, the strain that caused last winter's massive post-holiday surge. In that case, you should check with your doctor, the experts said, but a home rapid test could also come in handy at that point. Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. Some of those symptoms congestion, sore throat, cough, fever might be easily confused with other common illnesses, such as the flu, allergies, RSV or the common cold. Home. And, taking the new CDC guidelines into account, its not unreasonable to gradually leave isolation after 10 days even if youre still testing positive on a rapid test. One is if youre immunocompromised, because, as previously mentioned, it could take longer than 10 days for your body to clear an infection, or you might need extra help to do that. "While that average is closer to six to 10 days, there are people who will hang on for longer than that.". According to Dr. K.C. Added a time-based strategy and named the test-based strategy for asymptomatic persons with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19. Most people with COVID-19 aren't contagious for more than 10 days after I think we chalk it up to some variation in peoples immune system and ability to respond to infection and clear this virus.. Thank you for taking the time to confirm your preferences. For some, that may mean still testing positive at 10 days or more. "The answer to that is clear as mud," he says. And remember that even a faint line on a home COVID-19 test should be considered positive. According to the studies that the CDC cites, its pretty uncommon to be able to grow infectious virus from a sample taken after 10 days of infection. If you keep testing nonetheless, and your rapid test does turn up positive after 10 days, Coffey advises that you take additional precautions, like wearing a mask, keeping up good hand hygiene, and avoiding people who are high-risk (including those who are immunocompromised) until 14 to 20 days after infection and abatement of symptoms, just in case. And, if you're in high-risk situations on a trip (like a crowded indoor party), the CDC recommends taking a rapid test when you get back. Unlike PCR tests, which search for genetic material from the virus, rapid antigen tests work by looking for the proteins that are packed inside the virus. Click Check Out Now. or after 10 days if they were continuing to test positive. You can continue to follow that advice if you wish, and you have tests available. The NHS says most people with Covid-19 or will feel better within a few weeks. For many, particularly people who Nobodys saying that there arent some people, maybe statistically speaking at the end of the tail, who might transmit after Day 10, Dr. Chin-Hong said. And, of course, there's the common cold to think about, as well. But, as experts told TODAY.com previously, rebound cases appear to be generally mild and, crucially, antiviral medications are still keeping people out of the hospital. If you continue to test positive, is it possible you're still infectious? Several infectious-disease experts said they believe patients with covid should have a negative antigen test which gives results within minutes before exiting isolation. Included evidence for expanding recommendations to include children. (Yes, it is frustrating that there is no clear, easy-to-access guidance on what you should do if this is your situation.) But if you continue to test positive after the 10-day period, should you remain in isolation? Those symptoms should go away on their own within two days, experts said. Patients and Visitors. In other words, anyone who had a negative test on day five or later after their initial diagnosis had no more detectable virus. And to make things even more stressful, COVID-19 isn't the only seasonal illness we have to worry about right now. "Test as soon as you have symptoms," Volk recommends. Wroblewski said an important gauge of contagiousness is the simplest: how someone is feeling. arrow_backward Close mobile menu. A. According to the CDC, its very unlikely that you can pass on infectious virus particles to someone 10 days after becoming symptomatic. Extended the home isolation period from 7 to 10 days, Removed specifying use of nasopharyngeal swab collection for the test-based strategy and linked to the. A rapid antigen test with a positive result. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hasn't provided specific guidance for what to do in this situation, but experts widely assert that as long as your symptoms are gone, you likely don't need to isolate any longer. While zealously doing additional tests may seem prudent, it doesnt stand to be that useful. These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. That's especially true if you're fully vaccinated, any symptoms you developed have resolved, and you continue to take other precautions (especially masking) until you get a negative result. Wish we knew if transmission was still possible. Again, you should keep wearing a mask when you're around other people for 10 days. Symptoms typically appear just a few days after infection, with viral levels peaking less than five days after the pathogen first becomes detectable. 3. New Omicron Subvariants May Lead to More Reinfections: Top Doc, All Eyes On a Strong' System That Could Hit Chicago Area Friday, But Much Uncertainty Remains, Who Did Your Ward Vote For? In the event that your test is negative even though you have noticeable COVID-like symptoms or you were exposed to someone with a confirmed case, the FDA now recommends taking a second test two days later. Verify that your information is correct and select Place My Order. But those with more moderate or severe cases, as well as those who are immunocompromised, may need to perform more tests to leave isolation based on advice from their medical team, the CDC says. Keep in mind that the most common symptoms of COVID-19 may be somewhat different now than they were earlier in the pandemic. For patients with severe illness, duration of isolation for up to 20 days after symptom onset may be warranted. Some people are reporting that, after their symptoms resolve after antiviral treatment with Paxlovid, the symptoms and, possibly, a new positive test return a few days later, Dr. Taison Bell, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Virginia, told TODAY.com previously. First, you should isolate from others for at least five full days after your positive test, current CDC guidelines state. Of folks, she adds, duration of isolation for up to 20 days on another.! As you have tests available after your positive test, you should keep wearing a mask the... Isolation for up to 20 days be dealing with what 's known a. 'S known as a Paxlovid rebound will feel better within a few weeks said they believe patients severe. 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