From March 2020 to June 2022, people in the USA performed 912.7 million COVID-19 tests. Rapid antigen test results help us track the virus, react to it, and keep our loved ones safe.
How to read your rapid antigen test results? Testing yourself is easy, but the results can be tricky to interpret.
How do you identify a positive result? How should you react? What does a faint line mean?
We have a guide to help you. Read on and stay safe!
What Do Your Rapid Antigen Test Results Mean?
Your point of care (POC) rapid antigen test shows your results in minutes. Those approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have a control panel and results window. This makes things easier, but you must still know how to read it.
The Control Marker and Invalid Tests
After your test, a line will appear next to the control (C) symbol. This happens fast; you must wait to see if a line appears next to test (T). This could take 10-15 minutes, depending on the test.
If no line appears next to C, or a line appears only on T, this is an invalid test result. You should take another POC rapid antigen test.
What Does a Positive Result Look Like?
If lines appear next to C and T, you have a positive result. A faint line next to T is still a positive result. However, the levels of the virus in your blood may be lower. The amount of the virus in your system is called your viral load.
What Should You Do After a Positive Result?
Even though the COVID-19 rules in the United States have relaxed, you still must protect others from the virus.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states you should isolate for at least five days, wearing an N-95 mask if you must be around other people. You should monitor your symptoms and take a POC rapid antigen test at the end of your isolation period to ensure you are no longer contagious.
You can order your N-95 masks here. They are also effective for other airborne pathogens and pollutants, filtering out 95% of 0.3+ micron particles.
What Does a Negative Result Look Like?
A line next to C shows a negative result, and nothing next to T. Make sure you are in a well-lit room, so you can spot a faint T line if present. If you are unsure, you should follow up with a second POC rapid antigen test.
Keep COVID-19 Under Control
We hope this guide helps you make sense of your rapid antigen test results. Even though the worst of COVID-19 appears behind us, we must stay vigilant to keep ourselves, our loved ones, and our colleagues safe. A POC rapid antigen test is one of the fastest and easiest ways to do this.
Sun Group Partners (SGP) was founded in 2018 by Glenn and Brent Sands to provide top-quality imported medical supplies to the United States. SGP stocks Salocor COVID-19 rapid antigen tests, PCR tests, nitrile gloves, N-95 face masks, and everything you need to stay safe as we recover from COVID-19.