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Samilynnki t1_ixt89in wrote

Reply to comment by reddiart12 in How soon after exposure is the flu contagious? by AcJc_0604

24-48 hours post suspected exposure is the generally accepted minimum wait time to have a sufficient viral load for a rapid test to be accurate. 72 hours post exposure is considered ideal for testing. I appreciate you clarifying/implying that you would obviously be quarantining from the time of suspected exposure, for the health and safety of others, even if a rapid test couldn't give you an accurate result in the first day or so.

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TreeKlimber2 t1_ixuqyvc wrote

According to the CDC, you need to wait 5 days unless symptomatic. Earlier tests are likely to come back negative even if the person is carrying the virus.

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Samilynnki t1_ixvbgsw wrote

since when? I am an RN and did one of the mass COVID testing sites in my town (back in 2021) and later one of the mass COVID vaccine clinics.

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TreeKlimber2 t1_ixwp30r wrote

...and I work for the Department of Health. Waiting has been the standard for awhile now.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/testing.html#when-to-get-tested

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Samilynnki t1_ixwqezq wrote

Ah, yes I see that page was updated September 2022. That would be after 2021, which I specified was the time I was doing the swabs and later the vaccines.

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TreeKlimber2 t1_ixwrk67 wrote

That was a page update; the recommendations to wait before testing have been in place for quite some time now. Though they were somewhat recently changed from waiting 4 days to the current standard.

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[deleted] t1_ixttsue wrote

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GreatAndPowerfulNixy t1_ixtzql5 wrote

Rapid antigen tests have high rates of false negative results. Repeat testing is needed to confirm.

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kbotc t1_ixv6ban wrote

While true, they’re quite effective for point in time “am I contagious at this second”

If you’ve got antigens in your nose, you are shedding.

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fastolfe00 t1_ixuog2z wrote

Rapid antigen tests commonly give false negatives. They are better thought of as tests to prove you have COVID, not tests to prove you don't. You need multiple tests if you're sick and want to be sure it's not COVID. Time is only part of it.

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TreeKlimber2 t1_ixurdoz wrote

Actually, your experience is spot on. It's recommended to wait 5 days to test if not symptomatic sooner. Earlier tests are not expected to accurately detect the virus.

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[deleted] t1_ixtkq3m wrote

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