On the corona test, only a very pale, thin line appears next to the “T”. Is the rapid test still positive?
Hamm – Many Germans are now familiar with this: After the usual waiting time, the domestic rapid corona test not only shows a red control line, but also a second line – next to the “T”. After more than two years of pandemic, everyone knows what that means: I have Corona! But what if the second strip is very thin and pale?
The results of a rapid home antigen test are usually easy to read. If the line comes next to the “C” – the so-called control line – the test is OK. If the only bar remains on the test strip after a time specified by the manufacturer, then I’m okay too – no corona.
Corona test: “T” line is only faintly visible – am I still positive?
But unfortunately the decisive line is sometimes not bold and red and clear, but only appears pale and pink. The question then is: is the corona test positive or not? A lot depends on this question: Do I have to keep away from other people? Or when the infection subsides: have I survived Corona?
It makes no difference to the result whether the T-stripe appears strong or rather pale: Because different factors can influence the severity of the stripe, no reliable conclusions can be drawn about the viral load from its condition, explains the diagnostics industry association in which many providers of corona tests are members.
Corona rapid test: what does a thin line mean? Top virologist Ciesek explains
Top virologist Sandra Ciesek also tweeted six rapid antigen tests with different “T” lines. One on which a barely visible line can be seen next to the “T” is counted among the positive tests. “Any faint line at the right height counts and should be verified using PCR,” Ciesek wrote.
The Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI) makes a similar statement. It advises repeating the corona test (ideally with that of another manufacturer) or – if possible – having a PCR test carried out. According to the PEI, you should be in self-isolation until the test result is available.
Important for all rapid corona tests: Follow the instructions
What is important for all rapid home corona tests is that only those who follow the manufacturer’s instructions will get a meaningful result. After a certain period of time (between 15 and 30 minutes, depending on the provider), the result that can be read on the test cassette is no longer meaningful.
am i positive You have to consider this when evaluating the Corona self-test:
- A “control line” must appear at “C”. If it doesn’t come or comes only with a delay, the test is meaningless.
- Appears in addition to the control line “C” at “T” no line, the test is negative.
- Appears in addition to the control line “C” at “T”. faint or distinct linethe test is positive.
How long does it actually take until the first symptoms appear with Omikron BA.5? What you should know about the incubation period for the Corona variant. Anyone who has actually been infected with the corona virus would of course want to be among people again as soon as possible. But how long are you contagious?
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