For guidance provided by PWNHealth, please see the frequently asked questions below:
general questions
What is the coronavirus disease (COVID-19)?
Coronavirus disease (also called COVID-19) is an infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus), one of the most recently discovered types of coronaviruses. Those who have this disease may or may not experience symptoms, which range from mild to severe.
How does COVID-19 spread?
COVID-19 spreads easily from person-to-person, even when an infected person is not showing symptoms. When an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, droplets containing the virus go into the air. These droplets can be inhaled or land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby, exposing them to the virus.
People may also be exposed to COVID-19 by touching their eyes, nose, or mouth after touching a surface with the virus on it. Although this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads, researchers are still learning more about COVID-19.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after being exposed to the virus. The most common symptoms include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Cases of COVID-19 range from mild to severe. Some people who are infected don’t have any symptoms and don’t feel sick. Most people have mild symptoms. Visit the CDC website for more information about symptoms.
Who is at high risk of getting very sick?
Severe cases are more likely to occur in the following people:
- Older adults (the older you are, the higher your risk for severe illness from COVID-19).
- People of any age with underlying medical conditions.
It is important to note that serious illness can also occur in young, healthy adults. If you have questions about your risk, talk to your healthcare provider. For more information, you can also visit the CDC website.
Am I at risk of getting COVID-19?
COVID-19 is very contagious. The risk of getting COVID-19 depends on many factors, including close contact with people who have symptoms of COVID-19. It is important to follow your federal, state, and local government guidance to protect yourself from exposure
How is COVID-19 treated?
There is currently no treatment for COVID-19. Not all patients with COVID-19 will require medical attention, and most people recover within 2 weeks without any specific treatment. For severe cases, hospitalization and respiratory support may be required. For mild cases, treatment focuses on managing symptoms.
How can I protect myself from getting COVID-19?
The best way to protect yourself is to avoid situations in which you may be exposed to the virus. Everyday actions can help protect you and prevent the spread of respiratory diseases such as COVID-19.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Restrict any activities outside your home and maintain a safe distance (around 6 feet) between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community. This includes avoiding crowded areas, shopping malls, religious gatherings, public transportation, etc.
- Wear simple cloth face coverings in public settings (like grocery stores and pharmacies) where social distancing is difficult, especially in areas where COVID-19 is spreading.
- Stay home when you are sick, unless you are seeking medical care.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces (including tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks).
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water aren’t available. Always wash hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
How can I prevent spreading COVID-19?
If you believe you may have COVID-19 or test positive for COVID-19 and have mild symptoms, the following steps can help prevent the disease from spreading to others:
- Stay home except to get medical care
- Take care of yourself by getting rest and staying hydrated
- Over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen, may help you feel better
- Avoid public areas, including work and school
- Avoid using public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis
- Stay in touch with your healthcare provider
- Separate yourself from other people
- Stay in a separate room and away from other people and pets in your home
- If possible, use a separate bathroom
- If you need to be around other people or animals, wear a face covering
- Cover your nose and mouth
- If you are sick, wear a face covering when you are around other people or pets
- Use a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and throw away used tissues in a lined trash can
- Clean your hands often
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after being in a public place, blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing, going to the bathroom, or before eating or preparing food
- If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth, and other people with unwashed hands
- Do not share﹣
- Do not share dishes, cups/glasses, eating utensils, towels, bedding, or electronics with other people
- After using personal items, they should be washed thoroughly with soap and water or put in the dishwasher
- Clean all “high-touch” surfaces every day
- Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces in your separate “sick room” and bathroom
- If possible, wear disposable gloves while cleaning
- Someone else should clean and disinfect surfaces in common areas
- If a caregiver or someone else needs to clean and disinfect, it should be done on an as-needed basis
- Caregivers should wear a face covering and disposable gloves
- Clean and disinfect areas that might have blood, stool, or bodily fluids on them
When should I seek medical care?
If you think you have been exposed, it is important to closely monitor for symptoms. Seek medical attention immediately if you develop severe symptoms, especially if you experience:
- Severe trouble breathing (such as being unable to talk without gasping for air)
- Continuous pain or pressure in your chest
- Feeling confused or having difficulty waking up
- Blue-colored lips or face
- Any other emergency signs or symptoms
If you seek medical attention, be sure to call ahead before visiting the facility. This will help the facility keep other people from possibly getting infected or exposed.
- Tell any healthcare provider that you may have COVID-19.
- Avoid using public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis.
- Put on a face mask before you enter any healthcare facility.
What is social distancing?
Social distancing, also called “physical distancing,” means keeping space between yourself and other people outside of your home. It includes:
- Staying at least 6 feet (2 meters) from other people
- Not gathering in groups
- Staying out of crowded places and avoiding mass gatherings
Social distancing is one of the best ways to avoid being exposed and to help slow the spread of the virus. It is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.
Be sure to continue to follow federal, state, and local government guidance regarding social distancing.
Should I self-quarantine or self-isolate? How does it work?
If you think you may have been exposed to COVID-19, it is very important to stay home and limit your interaction with others in your household and in public.
- If you have not been tested but may have been exposed to COVID-19, self-monitoring and self-quarantine is recommended to see if you get sick.
- If you have tested positive for COVID-19, self-isolation is recommended so that you do not pass the virus to others.
If someone in my household has to quarantine, should I quarantine as well?
If someone in your household is told to quarantine because they’ve been exposed to COVID-19, you should quarantine as well. This is especially true if you’ve been in close contact with that person. It’s possible for you to have the virus even if you don’t have symptoms. Quarantine should last 14 days from your last close contact with this person in order to see whether you develop symptoms. Limit close contact with others as much as possible (stay at least 6 feet apart) and avoid having any unnecessary visitors, especially people who are at high risk of severe illness. You do not need to quarantine if you have had COVID-19 in the last 3 months, have recovered, and do not have symptoms. If you have questions, contact your healthcare provider for additional information.
Is there a difference between stopping isolation vs. stopping quarantine?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines recommend considering different factors when deciding to stop isolation or quarantine:
- Those who have been infected with COVID-19 should isolate. They may be able to stop isolating once symptoms have improved, and it has been at least 10 days since symptoms first appeared. Some symptoms such as loss of taste or smell may last for weeks or months and should not delay ending isolation. Those who have never had symptoms may be able to stop isolating 10 days after testing. However, those who had severe illness from COVID-19, or people with a weakened immune system, may need to isolate longer than 10 days or may require testing to determine when they can be around others.
- Those who have been possibly exposed to COVID-19 should quarantine. They may be able to stop quarantining if they don’t develop symptoms, and it has been at least 14 days after possible exposure. However, those who’ve been possibly exposed to COVID-19 but have already had COVID-19 in the last 3 months, recovered, and do not have symptoms, do not need to quarantine. Please note that it’s possible for a person diagnosed with COVID-19 to stop isolation before someone possibly exposed can stop quarantining.
Who should quarantine?
Anyone who may have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 should quarantine.
Close contact includes:
- Being within six feet of someone who has COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes
- Providing care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19
- Direct physical contact with someone who has COVID-19 (hugged or kissed them)
- Sharing eating or drinking utensils with someone who has COVID-19
- Being exposed to respiratory droplets from someone who has COVID-19 (being sneezed or coughed on)
People who have tested positive for COVID-19 do not need to quarantine or get tested again for up to three months, as long as they do not develop symptoms.
I’m traveling soon. Do I need to quarantine?
Depending on where you’re going, you may need to quarantine at your destination if there are entry requirements and restrictions. Be sure to check state, territorial, tribal and local public health websites for more information on travel quarantines. International travelers should check with the Office of Foreign Affairs or Ministry of Health or the US Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Country Information page for more details.
When should I start and end quarantine?
If you’ve been exposed to COVID-19, you should quarantine for 14 days. This period begins from the last close contact you had with someone who has COVID-19, even if you test negative for COVID-19 or feel healthy. The following scenarios can help you determine when you should end your quarantine:
- If you will not have further contact or interactions with the person who has COVID-19 while they’re sick then your last day of quarantine is 14 days from the date you had close contact.
- If you live with the person who has COVID-19 (e.g., roommate, partner, family member), and if they’ve isolated by staying in a separate bedroom and you’ve had no close contact with them since they isolated, your last day of quarantine is 14 days from when the person began home isolation.
- If you live with the person who has COVID-19 (e.g., roommate, partner, family member) and already started your 14-day quarantine period but end up having close contact with them again during your quarantine period, or if another household member gets sick with COVID-19, you will have to restart your quarantine from the last day you had close contact with anyone in your house who has COVID-19. Any time a new household member gets sick with COVID-19 and you have close contact with that person, you will need to restart your quarantine period.
- If you live in a household where you cannot avoid close contact with the person who has COVID-19 or are providing direct care to a person who is sick, don’t have a separate bedroom to isolate that person, or live in close quarters where you are unable to keep a physical distance of six feet, you should avoid contact with others outside the home while the person is sick and quarantine for 14 days after the person meets the criteria to end home isolation.
For additional questions about when to start or stop quarantine, be sure to contact your healthcare provider.
What’s the difference between quarantine and isolation?
Isolation and quarantine are both ways to limit your interaction with others to prevent the spread of disease.
- Isolation is separating individuals with COVID-19 from people who are not sick. Individuals are separated for a period of time until they are no longer infectious.
- Quarantine is separating individuals who may have been exposed to COVID-19 but haven’t been tested. They are separated for a brief period of time (14 days after possible exposure) to see if they develop symptoms.
When can I stop in-home isolation?
If you’ve been diagnosed with COVID-19, please check with your primary healthcare provider or local health department to help determine when it’s right to stop isolation. Typically this is done when fever and symptoms improve and 10 days have passed since symptoms started. Some symptoms, such as loss of taste or smell, may last for weeks or months and should not delay ending isolation. If you do not have symptoms, you may be able to stop isolating 10 days after your test was performed. Be sure to continue to follow federal, state, and local government guidance regarding social distancing and isolation. For more information, please visit the CDC website.
Can someone who has had COVID-19 become infected again?
Reinfection with COVID-19 has not been confirmed in any individual that has recovered. Whether an individual can be reinfected remains unknown and is under investigation. A positive PCR test result during the 90 days after illness started is most likely from the initial infection rather than reinfection. Visit the CDC website for further information.
What is “prolonged viral shedding”?
Prolonged viral shedding is what happens when parts of a virus are detectable in a person for a period of time even after they’ve recovered from an illness. For some individuals who had or have COVID-19, the virus may be in their test samples for up to 3 months. Retesting during this time period is not recommended. However, if an individual starts having symptoms consistent with COVID-19 during this period and other illnesses are ruled out, a healthcare provider or infectious disease expert may consider additional testing. The best available evidence suggests that most individuals who have recovered are likely no longer infectious, but there is not enough evidence at
this time to confirm this. If you have questions, contact your healthcare provider for additional information.
population questions
Are the rates for COVID-19 higher in the Black and Hispanic communities? Am I more likely to get COVID-19 if I’m Black and/or Hispanic?
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has shown that there is a higher burden of illness and death from COVID-19 among certain racial and ethnic minority groups. Based on data from New York City, Black and Hispanic people have more cases of COVID-19, as well as higher rates of hospitalization and death due to COVID-19 than White and Asian people. More studies are underway to confirm this data and reduce the impact of COVID-19 on these communities. Whether or not you get infected with COVID-19 depends on a number of factors. The good news
is that you can control many of these factors. Visit the CDC website for more information.
Why are certain racial and ethnic minority groups impacted more by COVID-19?
Recent data suggests that COVID-19 has a greater impact on certain racial and ethnic minority groups. Health differences are often due to social and economic conditions. In public health emergencies, these conditions can isolate people from the resources they need to prepare for and respond to outbreaks. Some conditions contribute to a higher risk of getting sick with COVID-19 for certain racial and ethnic minority groups. These conditions include:
- Some racial and ethnic minority groups are more likely to live in densely populated areas and have multi-generational households, making it difficult to practice prevention and social distancing
- Racially segregated and medically underserved neighborhoods are linked to more underlying health conditions. These groups have higher rates of chronic conditions — such as heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease — that increase the severity of COVID-19.
- Some racial and ethnic minority groups are less likely to have health insurance and have distrust of the medical system, making them less likely to seek care when they are sick.
- Some racial and ethnic minority groups are critical workers or work jobs where they do not receive paid sick leave, making it more likely they will continue to work even when they are sick.
- Some racial and ethnic minority groups are overrepresented in jails, prisons, and detention centers, which have specific risks due to close living quarters, shared food services, etc.
- Some racial and ethnic minority groups don’t speak English or speak English as a second language, sometimes creating a barrier when it comes to access to care.
What is being done to help lower illness and death rates in certain racial and ethnic minority groups?
Researchers as well as state and federal governments are currently monitoring the number of COVID-19 cases, complications, and deaths in minority groups, which will help improve the management of patients, distribution of resources, and public health information. Additionally, there are many resources available within the community, such as free and low-cost health services, grocery delivery services, and educational materials. Please contact your healthcare provider or local health department for more information.
I am Black and/or Hispanic. What can I do to lower my chances of getting COVID-19?
The best way to protect yourself is to avoid situations in which you may be exposed to the virus. If you or someone you care for is at higher risk of getting sick with COVID-19, take steps to protect them, as well as yourself, from getting sick. These steps include:
- Stay home and follow isolation practices
- Wash your hands often
- Stay away from people you know are sick
- Wear simple cloth face coverings in public settings
How does COVID-19 affect pregnant women?
COVID-19 can affect pregnant women as well as nonpregnant women. There is not enough evidence at this time to suggest that pregnant women have a higher risk of getting COVID-19. However, studies show that pregnant women may have a higher risk of developing more severe illness. There may also be an increased risk of issues during pregnancy, such as premature birth.
What should I do if I am pregnant and believe I have COVID-19?
If you’re pregnant and think you may have COVID-19, you should contact your healthcare provider to discuss next steps in your care. If you’re in labor and think you have COVID-19, call ahead and notify your hospital or birthing center prior to your arrival so that the healthcare professionals at the facility can take proper precautions to protect you, workers, and other patients.
What are hospitals and birthing centers doing for women who develop COVID-19 symptoms while still in their facility?
Hospitals and birthing centers should implement proper disease control practices to help control and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Practices should include testing pregnant women or women who have recently given birth who develop symptoms of COVID-19 while in the hospital. These healthcare facilities should limit the number of visitors to pregnant women or women who have recently given birth who have or are suspected of having COVID-19. Visitors should also be screened for symptoms of COVID-19 prior to entry.
Are people with HIV at higher risk for COVID-19 infection than other people?
Based on limited data at this time, people with HIV who are on effective HIV treatment have the same risk for COVID-19 infection as people who do not have HIV.
Older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions might be at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. This includes people who have weakened immune systems. Individuals with HIV are at greater risk of getting very sick if they have a low CD4 cell count or are not on effective HIV treatment.
What can people with HIV do to protect themselves from COVID-19?
The best way to prevent getting sick is to avoid exposure to the virus. If you have HIV, it’s important to continue taking your HIV medicine and follow the advice of your healthcare provider. You should also eat a healthy diet, get enough sleep, and reduce your stress as much as possible. Staying healthy helps your immune system fight off infection. To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, you should also take these everyday preventive actions.
If I have HIV and also have a higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, what can I do to protect myself?
People with HIV have higher rates of certain underlying health conditions. These conditions, as well as older age, can increase the risk for more severe illness if people with HIV get COVID-19. This is especially true for people with advanced HIV. In addition to following the same recommended safety precautions as everyone else, people with HIV should also take the following steps:
- Keep a 30- to 90-day supply of your HIV medicine on hand, as well as any other medicines or medical supplies you need for managing HIV. Ask your healthcare provider if you can receive your medicine by mail.
- Make sure you get all necessary vaccinations, including seasonal flu and bacterial pneumonia, as these conditions affect people with HIV more often.
- In case you need to isolate, ask your healthcare provider about telemedicine and other remote care options.
- Talk to your healthcare provider about what happens if you do become infected by COVID-19. Make a plan for how you will delay your routine medical and lab visits until follow-up testing and monitoring are possible.
What are the differences between COVID-19 and seasonal allergies?
COVID-19 and seasonal allergies do share some of the same symptoms, which may make it difficult to tell the difference between the two. However, COVID-19 can cause fever and chills, muscle aches, new loss of taste or smell, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, whereas seasonal allergies usually don’t. Seasonal allergies can cause itchy or watery eyes and sneezing, whereas COVID-19 usually doesn’t. If you have any questions about any of your symptoms, be sure to follow up with your healthcare provider. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for more information.
I have asthma. How can I protect myself against COVID-19?
If you have moderate-to-severe asthma, you may be at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19. The virus could cause an asthma attack and possibly lead to pneumonia or acute respiratory disease. But there are steps you can take to protect yourself. These steps include:
- Keep your asthma under control by following your asthma action plan.
- Keep taking your medications as prescribed and don’t make any changes without talking to your healthcare provider first.
- Avoid your asthma triggers.
- Talk to your healthcare provider about creating an emergency supply of prescription medications, such as asthma inhalers. Make sure that you have 30 days of non-prescription medications in case you need to stay home for a long time.
Can the cleaning agents I use to prevent COVID-19 trigger my asthma?
Some disinfectants can trigger an asthma attack. To reduce the chance of an asthma attack while disinfecting to prevent COVID-19, you can try the following tips:
- Ask an adult without asthma to clean and disinfect for you.
- Step outside or into a different room during and right after a cleaning.
- Only use disinfectant when it’s needed. Some surfaces, such as those not touched often, may only need to be cleaned with soap and water and will not need extra disinfecting.
- If you have an asthma attack, move away from the disinfectant or the area that was disinfected. Follow your asthma action plan. For medical emergencies, call 9-1-1 or go to the emergency room.
- When cleaning and disinfecting, you or the person who is cleaning should:
- Follow the recommendations for cleaning and disinfecting to prevent COVID-19.
- Choose disinfecting products that are less likely to cause an asthma attack. For more information, see the Environmental Protection Agency’s list of approved
products. - Limit the use of chemicals that can trigger asthma attacks, such as bleach, and do not use them in enclosed spaces.
- Follow additional precautions for cleaning and disinfecting places where people with asthma may be.
antibody test questions
What is the purpose of COVID-19 antibody testing?
On an individual level, an antibody test looks for antibodies in the blood. Your immune system makes antibody proteins to help fight infections. If you were exposed to COVID-19, an antibody test will show whether or not you’ve developed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. An antibody test cannot tell you whether you have a current COVID-19 infection.
On a population level, antibody testing can give researchers a sense of how many people have been exposed to and infected by COVID-19. In the future, antibody testing may show whether someone has immunity against COVID-19, meaning that they cannot get infected again. If antibodies make people immune to COVID-19, it can help inform leaders and public health officials about whether the population has reached herd immunity. Herd immunity is when a large percentage of a population has become immune to COVID-19, which can protect those people who are not immune.
What are the different types of antibodies? Do they offer different types of immunity?
There are three different types of antibodies: IgM, IgG, and IgA:
- Immunoglobulin M (IgM) is produced as the body’s first response to a COVID-19 infection. Generally, IgM may provide short-term protection and can help tell if an individual has been recently infected.
- Immunoglobulin G (IgG) is the most common type of antibody. It’s made several days to weeks after being exposed to COVID-19. Generally, IgG remains in the body and may provide long-term protection against future exposure.
- Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is found in the blood, sinuses, lungs, and stomach. Generally, IgA helps protect these areas from infection. However, the role of these antibodies in determining exposure or immunity is unknown.
There is not enough evidence at this time to suggest that people who have these antibodies are protected against future COVID-19 infections. Visit the CDC website for further information.
Do all COVID-19 antibody tests look for the same types of antibodies? Is there any advantage in getting one type of antibody test over another?
All COVID-19 antibody tests look for antibodies in the blood specific to the virus. There are antibody tests that look for one specific antibody (such as an IgG test). Other antibody tests look for the presence of multiple antibodies (such as a total antibody test). Both types of tests are helpful when trying to check if you have been exposed to the virus. At this time there is no advantage in checking for one antibody versus another. IgM and IgG antibodies are most useful when checking for past exposure to COVID-19. The CDC does not recommend testing for IgA antibodies.
Can antibody tests be used to diagnose a COVID-19 infection?
Antibody tests do not show whether a person is currently infected. A molecular (PCR) test is a more reliable indicator of current COVID-19 infection.
My COVID-19 antibody test was positive, but I’m still having symptoms. What should I do?
If you’re having symptoms of COVID-19, contact your healthcare provider or local health department to get tested for active infection. The antibody test can only tell you if you’ve been exposed and have developed an immune response, but it cannot say whether you have an active infection.
My COVID-19 antibody test was negative, but I previously tested positive for COVID-19 or was exposed. Is my result incorrect?
Getting an antibody test too soon after being infected may cause a false negative result. It usually takes around 1 to 3 weeks after being infected with COVID-19 for your body to produce enough antibodies to be detected in the blood. However, current research shows it may be best to wait 3 to 4 weeks after infection to get tested for antibodies. Some people may take even longer to develop antibodies or may not develop enough antibodies to be detected by the test. It is recommended that you contact your healthcare provider or local health department to see if retesting is needed.
If my COVID-19 antibody test is positive, can I get sick again with COVID-19?
If your test results show that you’re positive for COVID-19 antibodies in the blood, it means you’ve likely been exposed to COVID-19. Although having antibodies usually gives immunity from further infection, there is not enough evidence at this time to suggest that people who have these antibodies are protected against future COVID-19 infections.
What is the chance that my COVID-19 antibody test result was a false positive?
False positives occur when a person tests positive even though they DO NOT have the antibodies for COVID-19. There is a small chance that the result could be a false positive. Manufacturers must demonstrate a high specificity of approximately 99% to 100% to ensure validation of their test. If you have additional questions, please contact the lab directly for more information.
If I had more severe symptoms of COVID-19, will I have a higher antibody level?
Some studies have shown that individuals with more severe symptoms develop higher antibody levels. However, although having antibodies usually gives immunity from future infection, there is not enough evidence at this time to suggest that people who have higher amounts of these antibodies are better protected against future COVID-19 infections.
Can I have antibodies if I did not have any symptoms of COVID-19?
Yes. You can have antibodies from an asymptomatic COVID-19 infection. An asymptomatic infection is when you are infected but do not show any symptoms.
Based on the results of my antibody test, do I need to continue social distancing and/or wearing a mask? Can I visit someone who is at risk for severe symptoms of the virus?
At this time, there is no test that can tell you when to stop social distancing or isolating. Be sure to check with your healthcare provider about next steps and continue to follow federal, state, and local government guidance regarding social distancing and COVID-19 safety precautions. You should also use caution or avoid visiting at-risk individuals like those above the age of 65 or with pre-existing medical conditions.
If I have antibodies, am I a good candidate for donating plasma?
People who have fully recovered from COVID-19 and have antibodies are encouraged to consider donating plasma. You must be completely recovered from symptoms for at least 14 days prior to donation. If you have additional questions, please contact the donation center directly for more information.
general test questions
How do I know if the COVID-19 test is accurate and reliable?
PWNHealth only uses COVID-19 tests that have received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). These authorized tests minimize the chance of inaccurate, false positive, or false negative results. The FDA has found that tests that meet certain standards are of superior quality and have high sensitivity and specificity* (measurements of accuracy).
PWNHealth will not use tests that have been shown to have low sensitivity and specificity. For additional information, please reach out to the lab directly.
*Actual sensitivity and specificity may vary between test manufacturers. A sample that is not properly collected may also result in an inaccurate result.
What is the difference between an antibody test and a PCR test?
An antibody test checks to see if you’ve developed antibodies against COVID-19, which occurs after being exposed to the virus. Antibody tests do not show whether a person is currently infected.
PCR tests check for genetic material (viral RNA) produced by the virus. It determines if you’re currently infected and can spread COVID-19 to others.
When would I get an antibody test vs. a PCR test?
You should get an antibody test if you’ve been previously exposed or believe you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 and want to see if you have developed antibodies.
You should get a PCR test if you think you have an active COVID-19 infection
Visit the CDC website for more information.
If I’m having symptoms of COVID-19 or believe I’ve been exposed to it, what type of test should I get?
If you’re currently having symptoms of COVID-19 or have recently been exposed, you should get a PCR test to see if you’re currently infected.
Can an antibody test be used instead of a PCR test to diagnose COVID-19?
Antibody tests do not show whether a person is currently infected. Therefore, they should not be used in place of a PCR test to diagnose a current infection.
Can an antibody test be used together with a PCR test?
Antibody tests can complement PCR tests by providing information about exposure and how the immune system responds to COVID-19 infections.
Can a COVID-19 test tell me when I can visit someone who is at risk for severe symptoms of the virus?
There is no test that can tell you when you can visit someone who is at risk for more severe symptoms of COVID-19. Check with your primary healthcare provider or local health department to help determine when the time is right to make such visits. Be sure to continue to follow federal, state, and local government guidance regarding social distancing and COVID-19 safety precautions.
What is the difference between Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval?
The FDA has the authority to grant Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to diagnostic tests that have not yet received formal approval in times of a public health emergency. The FDA has granted EUA for certain tests during the COVID-19 pandemic to help detect or diagnose COVID-19.
Like full FDA approval, EUA relies on strict standards. However, EUA is completed more quickly based on the limited data that is available, unlike full FDA approval.
For more information, please visit the FDA website.
Have COVID-19 tests been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)?
The antibody tests and the molecular tests (together referred to as “tests”) have not been cleared or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA);
The FDA has authorized the use of some tests by certain laboratories under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA);
The antibody tests have been authorized for the detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 only, and not for the detection of any other viruses or pathogens;
The molecular (PCR) tests have been authorized for the detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2 only, and not for the detection of any other viruses or pathogens; and,
Tests are only authorized for as long as the circumstances exist to justify the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the authorization is terminated or revoked sooner.
What does “sensitivity” mean? What does “specificity” mean?
Sensitivity and specificity are different and complementary measures to inform doctors and patients about the accuracy of a test. A good test has both high sensitivity and high specificity.
Sensitivity is a measure of how well a test is able to detect people who are infected (positive cases). If a person has an infection, a test with 100% sensitivity can accurately detect it with a positive result.
Specificity is a measure of how well a test can detect people who are NOT infected (negative cases). If a person does not have an infection, a test with 100% specificity can accurately detect it with a negative result.
What are false positives and false negatives?
A positive result that is incorrect is called a false positive. False positives occur when a person tests positive even though they do not have the infection.
A negative result that is incorrect is called a false negative. False negatives occur when a person tests negative even though they do have the infection.
False negatives and positives can worsen the COVID-19 pandemic by providing false reassurance to those who have the infection or by causing those who do not have it to use critical resources.