The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has caused a global pandemic, and people are trying to figure out how long they can test positive for it after they have recovered. With the virus being relatively new, there is still much to learn about it and its effects on people. This article will discuss how long a person can test positive for COVID-19 after they have recovered from the disease.
Testing Positive After Recovery
When a person tests positive for COVID-19, they are said to have an active infection. This means that the virus is present in their body and can be transmitted to others. However, once the person has recovered from the disease, their body will produce antibodies to fight it off. These antibodies will help the body fight off any future infections, but they will also cause a person to test positive for COVID-19 even after they have recovered.
The presence of these antibodies will be detected by a test, which is why a person who has recovered from the disease can still test positive. This is known as a false positive, as the person is no longer infected with the virus but their body is producing antibodies to fight it off.
How Long Will It Last?
The length of time a person will test positive for COVID-19 after recovering from the disease is not yet known. However, studies have suggested that the antibodies produced by the body to fight off the virus can last for up to three months. This means that a person who has recovered from COVID-19 may still test positive for the virus for up to three months after their recovery.
It is important to note that just because a person tests positive for the virus, it does not mean that they are still infected with it. The test is simply detecting the antibodies that the body has produced to fight off the virus. It is also important to note that the presence of antibodies does not guarantee immunity from the virus.
While it is still not known how long a person will test positive for COVID-19 after they have recovered from the disease, studies have suggested that the antibodies produced by the body to fight off the virus can last for up to three months. It is important to remember that just because a person tests positive for the virus, it does not mean that they are still infected with it. It is also important to note that the presence of antibodies does not guarantee immunity from the virus.
The novel coronavirus has been a mainstay in global news since the end of 2019. As time passes, we all have become a bit more familiar with the virus, but one of the pressing questions that remain is for how long can you test positive for COVID-19 after recovery?
This can be a difficult question to answer due to the fact that certain data remains inconclusive and is subject to change depending on a variety of individual factors.
Generally, a person who has been diagnosed with the virus and has recovered may continue to test positive on both a rapid antigen test, or a PCR test. The rapid antigen test looks for part of the virus itself, and this is usually how a person tests positive initially. However, once a person has recovered, they may still test positive on a rapid antigen test due to antigen remnants in the body, even after the virus is gone.
The other type of COVID-19 test is the PCR test, and this test looks for genetic material from the virus. The goal of the PCR test is to determine whether the virus is actively reproducing in the body and whether the person is currently contagious. A person who has already recovered from COVID-19 may continue to test positive on a PCR test days or weeks after recovery due to the virus lingering in their system.
At this time, the CDC has stated that individuals who have tested positive and are at least 10 days past the onset of symptoms, and with at least 24 hours since there has been no fever without the use of fever-reducing medication and improvement of other symptoms, may discontinue isolation. The CDC also states that a person may also test negative and discontinue isolation, although if a person does test positive after isolation, the status of recovery should not be discounted, as the positive result is likely due to lingering remnants of the virus in the body.
It is important to note that many factors can contribute to the length of time a person may test positive for COVID-19 after recovery. Additionally, testing should be based on an individual’s clinical symptoms, not their test results. Ultimately, the best way to ensure a person has properly recovered from the virus is to maintain social distancing guidelines, use face coverings, and engage in good hygiene.
