You’ve undoubtedly taken a COVID test at least once by this point and have a general understanding of how it all works. Most tests are straightforward: one line indicates a negative result, two lines indicate a positive result. However, what does a hazy COVID line after 15 minutes mean? Do you feel good or not?
The solution is somewhat intricate. Here are several possible interpretations of a weak line on a COVID test, as well as what to do if this occurs to you.
What does a slender COVID line mean?
Most medical professionals concur that this indicates you have COVID-19. According to infectious disease specialist Amesh A. Adalja, M.D., a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, “a faint line on a COVID test suggests the test is positive.”
Professor and director of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo in Buffalo, New York, Thomas Russo, M.D., concurs. He explains, “It’s kind of like when you take a pregnancy test.” “To be ‘tiny pregnant’ is to be very pregnant,”
But why is the line so faint, then? There are several potential causes. According to William Schaffner, M.D., an infectious disease expert and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, “the most cautious, careful reading is that you’re positive, but your viral titer is low.” If you’re not familiar with the word, your virus titer basically refers to the quantity of virus in your body. You are therefore presumably less contagious at that time. If you’ve experienced symptoms for a time, it may also indicate that your COVID infection is about to end—or that it is just beginning, if you haven’t experienced symptoms at all or not at all.
The alternative scenario? You didn’t take your test very well, which is to be expected. Dr. Russo speculates that “it might reflect the quality of the swab you took.” Dr. Schaffner explains, “You might not have swabbed your nose vigorously enough.” (Be sure to read the directions carefully and adhere to them as closely as you can the next time to reduce the likelihood of that occurring.)
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How did COVID testing at home work?
It’s critical to review the operation of home COVID testing in order to properly see why this can be a problem. These tests examine samples taken from your nose using a swab to check for the presence of a portion of the virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2.
The majority of home COVID tests are antigen tests, which are made to quickly identify an active COVID-19 infection by identifying the SARS-CoV-2 virus’ nucleocapsid protein antigen. According to Dr. Russo, the test “detects the viral antigen that reacts to an antibody in that test cassette.”
The results are often displayed as either two lines (positive) or one line (negative).
To make sure you’re getting accurate results, Dr. Russo advises viewing your test results in well-lit conditions. He says, “You don’t want to ostrich and pretend it’s not there. You don’t want to miss a faint line.” He advises using your phone’s flashlight feature if your lighting is poor to make sure you can see your results clearly.
What to do if the COVID test results show a faint line?
You have two options: either assume you are positive, isolate yourself, and speak with your doctor about taking an antiviral drug like Paxlovid to lessen the likelihood that you will become seriously ill from COVID-19, advises Dr. Russo.
Dr. Schaffner advises getting another COVID test, preferably from a different brand, and testing yourself once more to make sure you are positive. Even if it’s a very faint line once more, you have COVID-19 if that test is positive. if it’s unfavourable? Take another test after waiting a day.
The most conservative interpretation, according to Dr. Schaffner, is that if you see a line, even if it’s faint, you’re probably going to be positive.
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