Tips from CoxHealth on how to properly take an at-home COVID-19 test

At-home COVID-19 tests have gained popularity in our community, and they can be a good option if you have symptoms or have had a known exposure and think you might be asymptomatic.

Rapid tests are able to detect current COVID-19 infection, including infections caused by the Omicron variant. They can give you a quick snapshot of the level of virus in your nose.

The test is most effective at detecting infection on day 2-5 of symptoms (with the first day of symptoms counting as “Day 0”). Outside of this timeframe, please consult your primary care provider.

Remember that a negative result is simply one snapshot in time, and you could be too early in the course of infection for the virus to be detectable.

A negative result is not clearance to stop isolation if you are feeling ill or had a known exposure. If you have tested too early, the virus may be replicating, and a test the next day could be positive.

The tests are good at detecting the virus as long as they are used properly and exactly as designed. Here are a few important tips on at-home testing:

Handling and taking tests

Be sure to use the test on days 2-5 of symptoms, where day zero is the first day of symptoms, or at least five days after an exposure to COVID-19 and earlier if symptoms develop.

Make sure your test has been stored properly and always check the expiration date. Before you open your test kit, make sure you have a clean workspace.

Read the instructions carefully and follow them to the letter. This means swabbing exactly as instructed, inserting the swab to the proper depth and making the recommended number of turns.

Do not use nasal sprays before taking a swab, as they can interfere with the result.

Wait the recommended amount of time, usually 15 minutes, between taking the swab and checking your results.

Reading results

A positive result can be an extremely faint line, so make sure you are checking the results in good lighting. Any positive indicator, no matter how faint, is a positive result. You should also make sure the control line appears on the test. You may take a photo of the result with your cell phone to help you confirm results.

If you see a positive result – especially in times of high community prevalence – you can be assured it is positive. There is no need to retest to double check a positive result.

If you see a negative result, keep in mind that you may need to retest 24-48 hours later. A negative result only means that you are negative at that single point in time. It is possible that you are infected and the virus hasn’t replicated enough to be detectible. The at-home tests are packaged in sets of two so you can take a second test a day or two later.

If you have any symptoms, or suspicion that you are infected, isolate yourself and test again in 24-48 hours. If you have had repeated negative results, but you have symptoms or suspect you are infected, schedule a virtual visit to get a more sensitive PCR test.

If your test is positive

If you have a positive result, you should quarantine for at least five days. It’s important to note that the day you become symptomatic or have a positive test is day zero. The next day is “day one” of your five-day quarantine.

Stay home and isolate for five days. Wear a mask if you must be around others in your home.

After five full days, you may end isolation if your symptoms are improving. You will want to be fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medications before leaving isolation.

Even after leaving isolation, you will need to take mask with a high-quality mask around others until day 10.

If you have been severely ill with COVID-19, isolate for a full 10 days.

Bottom line

Keep in mind that even if you are negative for COVID-19, there are other respiratory viruses in circulation and you don’t want to spread those, either.

If you feel ill, always take precautions like staying home and about masking if you must be around others. Remember to use a tight-fitting, multi-layer mask.