If you think you have COVID-19 and need a test, contact your health care provider or local health department immediately. You can also find a community testing site in your state, or buy an FDA-authorized at-home test. Some FDA-authorized at-home tests give you results within minutes. Others require you to mail the sample to a lab for analysis.
Who is responsible for reporting COVID-19 tests?
The testing site that performs the COVID-19 test is responsible for reporting to the appropriate state or local public health department.
What should you do after receiving your COVID-19 results?
• If you test positive, know what protective steps to take to prevent others from getting sick.• If you test negative, you probably were not infected at the time your sample was collected. The test result only means that you did not have COVID-19 at the time of testing. Continue to take steps to protect yourself.
Who is not eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine?
Children younger than age 5 years are not eligible to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine at this time unless part of a clinical trial. Children and adolescents younger than age 18 years are not eligible to receive the Moderna or Janssen COVID-19 vaccines at this time.
Where should I call if I think I have COVID-19?
• Call IDPH for more information 1-8
Is there a test for COVID-19?
Yes, the FDA has issued Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) for different types of COVID-19 tests. Some tests are used to diagnose the virus that causes COVID-19 infection whereas other tests are used to detect a recent or prior COVID-19 infection.
Do testing sites have to report all the data provided to me during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Yes, testing sites must report all of the 18 required data elements per the June 4 HHS Guidance. The CARES Act is federal law and laboratories must comply with the guidance for laboratory reporting. Please email any questions related to CMS enforcement of the new rule to [email protected]
Is the testing site or referring facility responsible for reporting COVID-19 cases?
See full answerThe testing site that performs the COVID-19 test is responsible for reporting to the appropriate state or local public health department. Please note that state licensure requirements, as well as accrediting organizations’ standards for reporting SARS-CoV-2 test results, might be more stringent than CLIA and require dual reporting. These more stringent requirements must be followed.Exceptions for the performing reporting requirements might include a hospital system that centralizes data, i.e., a reference lab that has no connection to the patient’s state but sends the data real time to the facility that referred the specimen that does have that connection, etc.
How long can you spread COVID-19 after testing positive?
People with COVID-19 can spread the virus to other people for 10 days after they develop symptoms, or 10 days from the date of their positive test if they do not have symptoms. The person with COVID-19 and all members of the household should wear a well-fitted mask and consistently, inside the home.
How long do I have to self-isolate after being infected with COVID-19?
You can be around others after: ● 10 days since symptoms first appeared and● 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and● Other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving* *Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation
