I was exposed to covid last Tuesday. I followed all the safety measures and I got tested this Saturday. It ended up coming back negative. I thought I was in the clear until I couldn't sleep last night due to horrible back pains and chills. Got up around 6am to check my temperature and it read 100.5. Could I have possibly gotten a false negative with my covid test this weekend? It was one of the rapid tests. I plan on going and getting re tested today.

Most of the doctors I have talked to said if you are not showing any symptoms they would not do the rapid test since it is not as sensitive as the PCR and would very likely come back negative. They also said to wait 5 days after exposure before getting tested.

Sounds like you have something, get tested again today or tomorrow since that would be 5 days after exposure. I have gotten 2 PCR test the past week and results come back in 24-36 hours.

The rapid test has a very high false negative rate, especially when used early in the course of the symptoms.

A doctor had posted here something about 50% accuracy for covid positive individuals when tested on the first day of symptoms. The accuracy went up over time to 70% on day 3 of symptoms I believe.

HCAggie2024 said:

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I was exposed to covid last Tuesday. I followed all the safety measures and I got tested this Saturday. It ended up coming back negative. I thought I was in the clear until I couldn't sleep last night due to horrible back pains and chills. Got up around 6am to check my temperature and it read 100.5. Could I have possibly gotten a false negative with my covid test this weekend? It was one of the rapid tests. I plan on going and getting re tested today.

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On top of what everyone said (rapid vs PCR), 4 days after exposure is pretty early to get tested. Most advise at least 5 days. Some say day 8 is the lowest chance for false negative.


https://www.acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/journal-scans/2020/05/18/13/42/variation-in-false-negative-rate-of-reverse

Quote:

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Over the 4 days of infection before the typical time of symptom onset (day 5), the probability of a false-negative result in an infected person decreased from 100% (95% confidence interval [CI], 100%-100%) on day 1 to 67% (CI, 27%-94%) on day 4. On the day of symptom onset, the median false-negative rate was 38% (CI, 18%-65%). This decreased to 20% (CI, 12%-30%) on day 8 (3 days after symptom onset) then began to increase again, from 21% (CI, 13%-31%) on day 9 to 66% (CI, 54%-77%) on day 21. The false-negative rate was minimized 8 days after exposuret hat is, 3 days after the onset of symptoms on average.

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https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2015897

I tested negative with symptoms (both rapid and PCR) 3 days after exposure and 6 days after exposure and then positive 13 days after exposure when my symptoms had been completely gone (minus some weird taste issues) for several days.

Went ahead and got the PCR this morning at 10. I talked to the nurse about if I should get a rapid test at another clinic (this clinic didn't offer rapid tests) and she said since I was experiencing symptoms that it would be more accurate so I went ahead and signed up for a rapid at 1pm.

TTT for an update!

I tested negative 3-4 days post exposure (rapid test). Was exhibiting 100ish fever with no other symptoms at the time. Chalked it up to a bit of a hangover. Week later 103 temp, tested positive rapid test and mouth swab.

HCAggie2024 said:

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Went ahead and got the PCR this morning at 10. I talked to the nurse about if I should get a rapid test at another clinic (this clinic didn't offer rapid tests) and she said since I was experiencing symptoms that it would be more accurate so I went ahead and signed up for a rapid at 1pm.

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What a tease.

I was exposed to a pair of symptomatics on the 30th( household members), took tests on the fifth (pcr and rapid both) that where negative. In the early morning of the 8th a bad cough kicked up, temp was obviously up, etc etc... tested positive that morning about 0800. Been a rough ride, I definitely have no taste or smell, and feel a little like I've been hit by a truck.

I dont know if it was a very long delay in me becoming symptomatic and positive on a test, or the family member who refused to try to help me stay more isolated( long story), but yeah.... it's possible. I hope you come back negative.

Funny you said "back pains' as that's what kicked off my round of covid. Once you have symptoms rapid test is fine.

Had serious back pain Monday evening, along with a headache and possible small fever. Chalked it up to a long weekend down south hunting and drinking along with the Superbowl. Woke up Tuesday and haven't felt anything else. Interesting. Doubt I will go get a test as it..