“I just did a covid home test and it came back positive?”
I just did a covid home antigen test and it came back positive. Here's the thing, though I looked up the symptoms of covid and I don't have a fever, I don't have chills, I don't have shortness of breath or trouble breathing (except in reference to my congestion), I don't have body aches, I don't have a headache, I don't have a loss of smell or taste, and I don't have nausea or diarrhea. Now, I had a sore throat but that went away a couple of days ago. I'm also coughing a lot less. I can also breathe better because I'm experiencing less congestion. I also have been drinking a lot of freshly squeezed lemon juice and that made me feel a lot better. Could it be that my in-home antigen test just confused a common cold with the coronavirus?
Female | 48 years old
Complaint duration: 7 days
6 Answers
InfectiousDiseaseSpecialistInfectiousDiseaseSpecialist
No. Each of our immune system is different. Fortunately you are able to ward off all the bad things which Covid can do. Just keep doing whatever you are doing and avoid going out at least for ten days after Covid tests positive
This sounds like most patients with Omicron. Normal coronavirus causes a cold and the Omicron variant is mostly giving similar symptoms to what you experienced. Alpha and Delta variants were causing more of the symptoms you mentioned that are absent for you.
Albert Kim
Family Practitioner
You do not need to have symptoms in order to have tested positive. Think of it as a mild form of having a cold. The test will positive because you have been exposed to the virus. Nothing more. It does tell us how severe or how weak a viral contact is. Because you are positive you must quarantine yourself and avoid exposure to others.
Hello,
Very common question - any test can have errors (either false positive OR false negative). But all labs are required to test their own test using known controls of a true positive and true negative in order to get FDA (Federal Drug Administration) approval for EUA (Emergency Use Authorization). The FDA grants EUA if the company seeking approval demonstrates the
appropriate level of sensitivity to detect COVID-19. So, these home test kits are 'antigen' tests that have been shown to be pretty good at detecting COVID-19, so in general - if your test is (+), you have COVID-19 even though you do not have all the symptoms. In fact, it is well-known there are asymptomatic (no symptoms) carriers who do not wear a mask and unknowingly spreads the virus to more vulnerable people like those over 60 years old or who those have medical conditions that make them sicker if they catch COVID-19. Also, the symptoms of COVID-19 start like the common cold (and even like allergies), which is why one must get tested to find out what they have.
Now, if one's Home COVID test is (-), it can be a false negative if test is taken too early in the illness. The guidelines recommend if one has no symptoms, but has had close contact with someone who is confirmed (+), then that exposed person should quarantine at home and be tested with a PCR test.
Very common question - any test can have errors (either false positive OR false negative). But all labs are required to test their own test using known controls of a true positive and true negative in order to get FDA (Federal Drug Administration) approval for EUA (Emergency Use Authorization). The FDA grants EUA if the company seeking approval demonstrates the
appropriate level of sensitivity to detect COVID-19. So, these home test kits are 'antigen' tests that have been shown to be pretty good at detecting COVID-19, so in general - if your test is (+), you have COVID-19 even though you do not have all the symptoms. In fact, it is well-known there are asymptomatic (no symptoms) carriers who do not wear a mask and unknowingly spreads the virus to more vulnerable people like those over 60 years old or who those have medical conditions that make them sicker if they catch COVID-19. Also, the symptoms of COVID-19 start like the common cold (and even like allergies), which is why one must get tested to find out what they have.
Now, if one's Home COVID test is (-), it can be a false negative if test is taken too early in the illness. The guidelines recommend if one has no symptoms, but has had close contact with someone who is confirmed (+), then that exposed person should quarantine at home and be tested with a PCR test.
At-home tests are not as reliable as a PCR (nasal swab). If your at-home test came back positive and you did not get a PCR to verify those results, you need to assume you do/did have COVID. Also, the virus has evolved since the pandemic started. The symptoms related to the Omicron variant are different from those of the original variant and even Delta. Omicron does not impact the respiratory system and presents more like a common cold. Lastly, if you’ve been vaccinated and gotten your booster, your symptoms will be less severe than those who have not.
Most likely you have the COVID-19. Many have been having mild symptoms, especially if you got COVID in the past, or were vaccinated. I would consider it positive, and follow quarantine measures as recommended by the CDC or your Department of Health.
