Who Should Get Tested?

After infection with a virus, the level of virus in a person’s body increases over time and then decreases when your immune system fights it off.
The COVID-19 test will be positive if the amount of virus in your body is high enough to be detected by the test.
- Symptoms are the best indication that the level of virus is detectable, but you can still test positive even if you don’t have symptoms.
A negative COVID-19 test could mean that you do not have the virus OR it could mean that you don’t have enough virus in your body for it to be detectable.
- Testing only indicates what is going on in your body at the time of the test.
- A person with a negative test one day can test positive the next day or several days later if the amount of virus in their body increases, or if they are exposed after testing.
Knowing your risk of exposure and your symptoms on the day of testing are important for the lab to properly interpret your results.

EXPOSURE		Clinical Features
Has had close contact with a person who has a positive COVID-19 test. OR Has traveled to locations on the KDHE Travel Related Quarantine Table	And	No symptoms OR Has developed 1 or more of the following symptoms in the last 14 days: - Fever* - Chills - Muscle pain - Headache - Sore Throat - Cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing - New problems with smelling or tasting - Congestion or runny nose - Nausea or vomiting - Unexplained diarrhea - General feeling of being unwell (malaise)
No known contact and no travel (no known source of exposure)	And	One of more of the following symptoms: - Fever* - Chills - Muscle pain - Headache - Sore Throat - Cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing - New problems with smelling or tasting - Congestion or runny nose - Nausea or vomiting - Unexplained diarrhea - General feeling of being unwell (malaise)
		*Measured fever of >100.4 ° F (>38°C)