Retesting Patients With a Possible False Positive COVID-19 Test

As the COVID-19 positivity rate in our region decreases, the risk of false positive test results increases. A positive test result may need confirmatory testing if the person has a low likelihood of COVID-19 infection (e.g., no known exposure to a person with COVID-19 within the last 14 days, is fully vaccinated, has had COVID-19 in the last 3 months).

Munson Healthcare and our local Health Departments support using the CDC test based strategy as outlined below. Per MDHHS, a positive is a positive until the CDC steps are followed.

If needed, confirmatory testing of possible false positive COVID-19 test result can be performed one of two ways:

• Confirmation with NAAT (the only option available to us is PCR test)
  •    2 consecutive PCR tests should be completed

• 1^st PCR test ASAP after positive test and, if that is negative,
• 2^nd PCR test ≥24 hours after 1^st
• Total of 2 negative PCR tests ≥24 hours apart must be obtained to be considered negative

• Confirmation with serial antigen testing that is performed every 3-7 days for 14 days

Resources

• CDC | Interim Guidance for Antigen Testing for SARS-CoV-2 **UPDATED 6/14/21**
• CDC | Interim Guidelines for Collecting, Handling, and Testing Clinical Specimens for 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV
• FDA | Potential for False Positive Results with Antigen Tests for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2
• CDC | SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Testing in Long Term Care Facilities