![]() ![]() ![]() A recent Cochrane Review found that these tests were most accurate when used during the first week after COVID-19 symptoms developed. Some people continue to test positive on lateral flow tests for several weeks after developing symptoms. You should also be careful if you have symptoms or have been in contact with someone with COVID-19, regardless of any line. However, if you can see any line at all, you are very likely to be infectious and should take steps to protect others. You should be particularly cautious if you see a faint line and believe you're at the start of a COVID-19 infection, because viral load can rapidly increase during this time. The intensity of the test line could also be influenced by how much virus you were able to collect on your swab, and where you collected it from (nose or throat), while mutations in COVID variants may further impact test sensitivity and line intensity. A faint, slow-to-appear line could still represent high levels of virus, meaning that if you can see any line at all, you are still highly likely to be infectious. This is because relatively large amounts of virus need to be present for the antibodies in the test to react to the viral proteins. Various studies have shown that people can have COVID-19 symptoms, and test positive on a PCR test, several days before a positive line can be seen on a rapid antigen test. COVID vaccines don’t just benefit physical health – they improve mental health too.Here's how to approach flu shots and COVID boosters during pregnancy.COVID: inhalable and nasal vaccines could offer more durable protection than regular shots.The danger comes with the interpretation of faint or absent lines. So, a dark line will usually indicate a high level of virus, and tend to be seen when people are at or near peak levels of virus within their bodies. ![]() The intensity of the test line does tend to match the concentration of viral proteins that are present in the sample. If these viral proteins are present, this will show up as a coloured line – in addition to the control line that indicates that the test has been completed properly. After the swab has been inserted into a tube of liquid, and several drops deposited on a small absorbent pad, the liquid is drawn through the cartridge, until it encounters a strip coated in antibodies which are specific to proteins from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. They work in a similar way to home pregnancy tests – except in this case the material being tested comes from a patient's nose and throat, and the kit is designed to detect viral proteins, rather than a pregnancy hormone. A dark line will usually indicate a high level of virus, and tend to be seen when people are at or near peak levels of virus within their bodies. These home tests can tell you if you're infected with COVID-19 within minutes, and have been touted as a way of knowing if you're still contagious and therefore present a risk to other people, or if it's safe to resume your normal activities. If you've been stuck at home with COVID-19, and have had access to rapid antigen tests (also known as lateral flow tests) you may have noticed that the intensity of the test band varies, and wondered what a weak line actually means – particularly if you're starting to feel better. ![]()
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