As coronavirus
(COVID-19) spreads in communities, parents might wonder if their family should
get tested, especially if someone is sick or was around a person who has the virus.
Work with your doctor to figure out whether a test can be helpful.
What Are the Types of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Tests?
The two main types of tests for coronavirus look for either a current infection
or a past infection.
Tests for Current Infection
To check if someone is infected with coronavirus, health care providers look for
pieces of the virus
in a sample of saliva (spit) or mucus. These tests can tell if the person
is infected on the day of the test.
Health care providers can:
- Use a swab (like a Q-tip) to take a sample from inside the nose (at the start
of the nostrils, the middle of the nose, or the very back of the nose), the throat,
the inside of the cheeks, or along the gums or tongue.
- Give the person a container to spit or cough into.
People can get the test in a doctor's office or other testing sites (such as pharmacies
or pop-up sites). Some areas offer drive-thru testing, which lets people stay in their
car during the test. At some testing sites, people can swab themselves following directions
from the health care team. There also are kits that families can order to do the test
at home.
Depending on the type of test and where it was done, results can be ready that
day or take a few days or longer if the test went to a lab. Results might take longer
if a community does many tests at the same time.
A "positive" test means a person is infected with coronavirus, and a "negative"
test means they aren't infected. But sometimes the test results aren't accurate. A
test result can be negative even when someone has the virus. This is why some people
get a second test. Rarely, the test may be positive in someone who doesn't have the
virus.
Inaccurate test results are more likely when someone is tested very early or very
late in their infection. They tend to be more accurate when done a few days after
someone was around an infected person or symptoms started.
Before the test, make sure you understand the instructions. For a swab test, help
your child stay still so the health care provider can get a good sample. The better
the sample, the more accurate the results.
Tests for Past Infection
To see if someone had coronavirus in the past, health care providers look for antibodies,
which the body makes about 2–3 weeks after an infection. This can't
tell if the person is infected at the time of the test, which is why this
test isn't used to diagnose COVID-19.
This is a blood test, with a sample taken either from a vein or a fingertip (called
a "fingerstick"). Results can be ready on the same day, or up to a week later. There's
no home kit for antibody testing yet.
Health experts aren't sure whether antibodies fully protect a person from future
coronavirus infections. And if they do, it's not clear for how long.
How Can Parents Help?
Ask the testing site about the type of test they will do. Then use simple terms
to explain it to your child. Having a swab placed in the back of the nose or throat
can be uncomfortable while it's happening. To soothe your child during testing, distract
them by talking quietly or singing to them. Show a short video or read a special book.
If you can, sit next to your child and hold their hand or rub their arm while they're
tested. If your child is old enough, you can do deep-breathing exercises together.
If the site says they will swab the front or middle of the nose, you can assure
your child that this is simple to do and not uncomfortable at all. Sometimes it tickles
or triggers a sneeze.
After Testing
If you or your kids get tested for coronavirus, talk with your doctor about the
results and what they mean for your family. Someone with a positive test is infected
and is contagious. They will need to isolate
to prevent the virus from spreading to others. Sometimes people need to stay home
and quarantine, even if their test is negative. Your doctor can tell you what your
next steps are.
