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More ... than47 million Americans have been tested for COVID-19, of those who head to the doctor afterExperimental symptoms of revelation coronaviruses Asymptomatic people who need to getTested before returning to work. However, some people use the test to determine which activities they can participate safely at instances, thesewho want to visit friends or family Can take a coronavirus test before making sure they do not wear the virus without knowing it. But according to experts, taking a single coronavirus test may not be enough for green light a return to normality.

"Personally, Iwould not consider a single license test go see my parents, who are older and would be at higher risk "Carl Bergstrom, PhD, a biology professor at the University of Washington who studies infectious diseases, saidThe Washington Post.

Coronavirus tests can be administered in different ways: Nasopharynx (deep nasal collection), throat, nostril and booths of saliva. However, everyone has their limits, and until25% of COVID tests could actually be inaccurate. According to Bergstrom, which ultimately does so unreliable coronavirus tests is the fact that when you take the test problems, and unfortunately, "Timing varies greatly in people". Even centers for disease control and prevention (CDC) cautious against negative viral testing completely to facial value.

"You can test negative if theThe sample was collected early in your infection and test positive later during your illness, "explains the CDC on their website. Bergstrom has developed on this idea, saying for example, if you have been infected by the coronavirus today and that you immediately tested it tomorrow tomorrow , you could"to have every reason to believe that you are going to test negativeeven if you are infected. "

SoHow long should you expect to be tested If you may have been exposed to the virus? AsLucy Wilson, an infectious disease specialist and a professor at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, saidThe Washington PostOn average, most people take about five days to test positive for the virus or show symptoms after exposure. Wilson compares it to a pregnancy test, which can only detect certain hormones days or weeks after design - which means being taken at the wrong time, you can get a negative pregnancy test result, even if you are pregnant, while May your coronavirus test can generate a false negative. If this is not given during the appropriate period.

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So, if you are looking for a coronavirus test to give you the OK to see other people during the pandemic, you may want to reconsider. Unfortunately, neither Wilson nor Bergstrom do a lot of faith behind the antibody test as an indicator that you are safe to see loved ones, either. In fact, many studies, such as a recently led by researchers at King's College London, have found thatCoronavirus antibodies significantly disappear over a short amount of timeAnd may not mean a lot in terms of long-term immunity.

"At the moment, we do not really know what a positive antibody test means in terms of measure that you are protected," said Bergstrom. And according to Wilson, the country is "just not yet with the accuracy of the antibody test".

The limitations of the coronavirus test and antibody test may seem like there is little hope of being, especially to see because there isNo Covid-19 vaccine available still. However, that's why experts always push the meaning ofcarry masks and practice social distancing As additional protection measures, especially since states reopen and people start seeing friends again and family members.

"We can not all stop living our life entirely [but] we have to make decisions about the risk we want to assume," said Bergstrom. And for more coronavirus tests,This is the type of Covid-19 test that you should ask.