health.ucdavis.edu

By Paul Goldfinger, MD, FACC  Jan 1, 2022:      Updated from our April, 2021 post on this topic.  January 1, 2022.

The internet is filled with misinformation about testing. One is that a positive test may br a “false positive” due to testing unreliability.

The truth is that PCR tests  (deep nasal swabs) are accurate, and false positive tests are rare, and if someone believes that false positives are common, they may waste time running around trying to get more tests done, and their lives may be threatened by the delay.

PCR tests look for virus antigens–ie pieces of the virus.  So if a PCR test is positive it is likely to be a true positive.

Here is a link  NJ Dept of Health.

But there is one caveat:  Once you have been infected, your PCR test can remain positive for a few weeks or up to 12 weeks. So, if that is your case and now you feel fine, you are probably not infectious, but be careful.

The NJ Dept of Health does not require retesting after you have been infected and quarantined for 10 days, so they are not worried about lingering positive tests, but such results can be confusing.

Another worrisome decision is when early symptoms are not checked out with a test.  If possible get a test done.  Don’t waste time if you are ill.   Then contact your doctor to tell him you went for a test.

However, remember that this virus has an average incubation period of 2-3 days and may last for longer periods before developing symptoms or positive test results, so if you are exposed to the virus, and if you were infected, you may have a negative test early on, so you should stay quarantined and then get tested in a few days.  But check with your doctor about timing.

Meanwhile, if exposed, behave as if you are infected  (ie quarantine and also mask and distance at home if possible)  especially if you have a vulnerable person at home such as someone who is elderly and/or immune compromised.

Jersey Shore gave me a statement which said, “Our test BioFire RP2.1 has been designed to minimize the likelihood of false positive test resultants.”

They also point out that “a negative test does not rule out COVID-19 and should not be used as the sole basis for treatment or patient management decisions.”  They say the possibility of a false negative result should be considered if the clinical picture suggests COVID.  (for example loss of taste and smell.)

Currently, December 2021, there is a huge demand for testing, and it may be difficult to be tested now.  Sometimes you need a quick test such as prior to surgery, or to attend a family gathering, or when returning to school,  or boarding a plane to another country, and you may have problems being tested. A rapid home test is not as reliable as a PCR test.

Also there may be some circumstances when a rapid home test is not accepted, as when being tested 3 days before flying out of the country.    Check in advance before making assumptions about rapid home test results.

The federal government promised to make quick home tests available to all, but they have failed so far. And once they are widely available, the public will need guidelines as to how to use the results.  When in doubt, check with your doctor.

Also, some testing companies are trying to rip off the insurance companies (APP article in April)  with tests costing up to $1,000.00 each.   Fraud in this arena is beginning to surface.

We heard that in Florida, in the Miami area, some sources of tests are currently exploiting the situation by excessive pricing.

There is a fortune to be made in testing, and COVID tests will be used in large numbers for a long time.

I got a copy of my COVID test result done at Jersey Shore, and I was surprised  to see that they not only tested me for COVID but they also tested me for 17 other viruses.   I wondered if all those  virus tests are justified.  Did their infectious disease specialists approve this complicated test or was this a financial decision? It cost over $1,000.00.

If you need a test go to where you can trust the result.  Consider the hospital or some of the Urgicare centers such as Central Jersey at the Asbury Circle or the one across from the hospital.

CURRENT BULLETIN.   In New Jersey, most of the recent spikes are the Omicron variant.  And about 1/3 of new cases have been fully vaccinated.  (“breakthroughs”)   But if you have been vaccinated and boosted, you should be well protected, but still be careful.