When should you get tested for COVID-19?

If you've recently been around someone who tested positive for COVID-19, you're probably wondering if you should get tested yourself. Even if you don't have any symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, sore throat, shortness of breath, dry cough, and new loss of taste or smell are some of the common symptoms), you may want to make sure you don't not the virus. Otherwise, you'll need to self-quarantine for a full 14 days, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, testing too early could result in a false negative, so you'll want to test in the correct time frame to receive the most accurate results.

Get tested 5-7 days after exposure

The best time to get tested for COVID-19 is five to seven days after exposure. This is because the incubation period of the virus is 14 days and it takes some time to build up in your system. If you test too early, your collected samples may not contain enough COVID-19 genetic material to register a positive result. A negative result simply means that your body did not contain high enough concentrated viral levels for a positive measurement.

What to do while awaiting to get tested

While you wait for the right time to get tested for COVID-19 and test results (which can take a week or more during peak times), it's important to quarantine yourself at home. You will want to completely isolate yourself from anyone else who lives with you by staying in a separate room and only leaving your home for medically necessary appointments. Take note of any symptoms you develop and check your temperature twice a day to control fever.

What to do if you test positive for COVID-19

If you have received a positive COVID-19 test, you will want to continue isolating yourself from others until 10 days have passed since you were tested for the virus. If you haven't developed any symptoms in those 10 days, you can end your isolation at that time. However, if you are showing symptoms, you should only end your isolation if all of the following parameters are met:

• It has been 10 days since the initial symptoms appeared.

• You haven't had a fever for 24 hours (without using fever medication).

• You saw improvements in all the other symptoms you had.

Please note that these situations only apply to people who have mild cases of COVID-19. People with more severe cases or who are immunocompromised may need additional testing to determine when they can be around other people.

COVID-19 test at TIB Diagnostics

TIB Diagnostics is pleased to offer COVID-19 testing at all of our facilities in California. We can give the PCR diagnostic test as well as the rapid antigen test. Some of our centers also offer express PCR and rapid tests for anyone wishing to be tested and showing no symptoms.

For more information on our COVID-19 testing services click here. You can also contact us at (650) 300-0796 ​with any questions you have