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A friend who is a senior A&E consultant has had symptoms consistent with Covid-19 over the last month (but clear for the last couple of weeks). By the time they were actually tested they were over it and, unsurprisingly, the test for active Coronavirus came back negative. It goes to show how "testing" is not that simple.
If you consider the stages of an infection:-
a) Uninfected
b) Initially infected, pre-symptomatic but viral load low (so not contagious)
c) Infected/contagious and either symptomatic or asymptomatic
d) Recovering but still contagious (i.e. significant viral load)
e) Post infection, low or zero viral loadAn "active SARS-Cov-2" viral test (usually a nasal swab) should be positive for stages (c) and (d).
A "have they had it" antigen/antibody test (more than likely a blood test) should be positive for stage (e) and, depending on specificity and sensitivity, possibly stage (d).
Greenbank-
There was also issues with oral swabs showing negative but anal swabs still showing positive.
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A "have they had it" antigen/antibody test (more than likely a blood test) should be positive for stage (e) and, depending on specificity and sensitivity, possibly stage (d).
Wonder if they'll set up antigen tests for all those that failed the initial test?
Nef
paininthe
My Niece, front line nurse at Hull Royal, had some of the symptoms, cough and raised temperature. Went to a drive through centre at a nearby hospital, got her results back in 24hrs. Thought that was quite good. She was a little disappointed that it wasn't positive, due to the mild symptoms. But at least she is back at work tonight.