What does a positive COVID test look like?

For many people, taking a COVID test has become a common event. Swab, stir, squeeze, drip, wait… relax. But for a lot of us, it’s still intimidating and new. How do we know when we’ve reached “relax”? Maybe you need a test certificate for international travel  to visit a friend or relative who’s at high risk from contracting coronavirus (COVID-19) and you want to be certain that you’re protecting them. Rapid Antigen Test (also known as a Lateral Flow Test) and PCR test certificates are required for travel to many destinations and with so many things making international travel stressful these days, VSM Pharmacy wants to help you feel safe and secure. If this all feels strange and new, we’re here to help you understand what a positive test result looks like and what it means.

Rapid Antigen Tests vs PCR tests

COVID-19 tests are no longer available free from the NHS but must be purchased from a pharmacy. VSM Pharmacy can provide you with both Rapid Antigen Tests (also known as a Lateral Flow Test) and PCR tests, online and in-store.

A PCR test and a certificate to say the result is negative may be required if you’re travelling abroad, especially if you’re going to transit through a third country to reach your destination. We can do the test with you at one of our pharmacies with our trained and friendly staff to help and then it’s sent off and you’ll get the result online within 48 hours.

A Rapid Antigen Test is done in our pharmacy. VSM Pharmacy can then issue you a UKAS registered Travel Certificate if you need one – it takes 20 minutes. 

Rapid Antigen Tests at home: What does a positive COVID test look like?

If it’s more convenient to take your Rapid Antigen Test at home then it comes with instructions that you should read carefully. Testing has come a long way since you first saw them being done on TV at the beginning of the pandemic and a Rapid Antigen Test is not nearly as intimidating as it used to be. They don’t hurt but they will probably tickle and may make you sneeze. Have a hankie or a tissue handy! There are several different brands of test kit. They all do the same thing but may have very slight differences in procedure, like how many minutes to wait to see the result, so follow the instructions carefully. The NHS has videos of how to take each of the different brands of test kit if you’d like to see how it’s done.

Everything you need is in the kit including a swab that looks like a long cotton bud and the actual plastic test called a “cassette”. Once you’ve taken your nasal swab that’s the icky bit over with. Swish the swab around in the tube of liquid provided (the test instructions will tell you how long to do this for), pop the lid on then squeeze and drip the liquid onto the test cassette in the “S” for “Sample” window. Wait 10 – 20 minutes depending on the test brand. Don’t wait too long as this can invalidate the result. Again, the instructions in the kit will tell you. The results window on the cassette has a “C” for “control line” and a “T” for “test line”. A positive result is if BOTH C and T have a red line next to them. The T line may be quite faint but that’s still a positive test result.

If ONLY the C line is present that’s a negative result. The test was void (something went wrong) if neither line is present or only the T line shows up red and in the unlikely event that this happens you’ll need to take another, new test.

What if it’s positive?

Of course, one answer to the question “what does a positive COVID test look like?” is – it looks scary! But… breathe and take a moment.

Testing positive does not necessarily mean that you are currently contagious. The current understanding of COVID is that the longer that you have tested positive for, the lower the chance of you remaining infectious and capable of spreading the virus to other people.

With PCR tests in particular, COVID tests can be extremely sensitive and pick up even the smallest amounts of the virus in our bodies and can sometimes still be detectable long after the last of the virus has been dealt with by your immune system.

So whilst a positive result doesn’t automatically mean that you’re contagious, you may be, so it’s recommended that you follow all guidance given by the government and the NHS.

According to this NHS guide on what to do if you have coronavirus (COVID-19) or symptoms of COVID-19, if you test positive you should try to:

• Avoid contact with other people and stay at home where possible
• Avoid contact with people at a higher risk from COVID-19 for 10 days, especially if they are at a higher risk of developing a serious illness from COVID-19. This applies even if the people are fully vaccinated
• Under 18s – Avoid contact with other people for 3 days and stay at home where possible

This advice begins from the day after you got your positive result.

By now, hopefully you have a better understanding of the answer to the question; What does a positive COVID test look like?

If you require more information about COVID tests, or if you just need some friendly, professional advice, contact us today using the form on our website, or by calling us on 01276 21002

For information on how to avoid catching and spreading coronavirus (COVID-19), read the NHS guide here, and for more information on COVID treatments and who is eligible to receive them, read more here