Which rapid test is least likely to result in a positive if the patient is feeling better and seems to be over it. 7 days from initial symptoms now, and trying to get kids this weekend.

I tested positive from the rapid test 10 days after onset of symptoms. Doctor said I was shedding old virus. I don't think either test can tell the difference between live or dead virus. I heard you could get a positive test months after recovering.

I believe the antigen test is less likely in this situation. I'm not a doctor, just going with what I've read and went that route to get tested a few days ago to get back into the states.

PCR is taking any pieces of DNA and replicating it so that virus is detectable.

Antigen is basically laying out what the virus would bind to and seeing if anything sticks.

So they both test for presence of the virus, but one amplifies the sample by thousands, while the other is probably more likely to result in a false positive.

I would still go antigen.

Am not a doctor.

Fyi, they took antigen and tested negative. Symptom onset 2/11, positive pcr test on 2/13, negative antigen test on 2/19. Minor symptoms (loss of smell, headache, slight leg aches). Never felt anything breathing or lung related and never had a fever.

Think we're good here.

No one should take a PCR test today for covid unless they don't believe they've had it.

The FDA has deliberately contributed to a gross PCR-based test panic, imho. Very, very few people understand what these test results mean.