Question about how CDC is handling false positives

Oct 7, 2021, 4:49 PM

So, prior to going on vacation last week, wife and I decided to test just to make sure we weren't leaving the country with COVID. I tested positive and a few minutes later my wife tested negative, both with PCR's. I panic, get tested again that evening and the next morning. Both are negative, along with a negative at home rapid test. I also tested negative with a PCR a few days ago in Mexico to come home.

So, with all that said, the CDC has counted me as a positive case even though its not correct. The CDC has only reached out once, via text, to ask me to fill out a questionnaire. The questionnaire asked when I started experiencing symptoms, which I hadn't because I didn't have COVID. If I said I didn't have symptoms, they said I needed to quarantine until the 9th.

Clearly my sample got contaminated at the lab, so I wonder how many other folks that morning also got a positive result from that lab when they weren't actually positive.

So my question is this: should positive tests require a second test to support the diagnosis or is a single positive result enough to force people to stay home and quarantine for 10 days, especially if they do not have symptoms?

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Please forgive me, @IneligibleUser

they do happen. I think the general rule is if you have a positive test and no symptoms develop in like 5 days, you can take another test and if negative you're good to go. A lot of people have zero symptoms, test positive, then develop symptoms a few days later, hence the reason.

Likewise, if you test negative, but have symptoms, and they worsen, then they recommend getting a second test to confirm negative.

It's a total pain getting tested and they're not accurate because how the virus works. But a false positive is like 2% of the tests and a false negative is like 15%+. And even false negatives may not be false negatives, you just tested too early, OR late. If you're sick with symptoms for a week+ and go get tested, you may get a "false" negative because by then you're over it, not contagious. But you will get a positive (accurate) test result up to 2 days BEFORE symptoms, and a few days after. Generally. Which is why they want you to wait a few days before the retest for a false positive.

Honestly, if you bent over and they shove the q-tip up your ###, that's a much more accurate way to test. But who wants that?

Question about how CDC is handling false positives

you went to Mexico?

Honestly felt safer, COVID wise, there

that is pretty nice

I try and stay on brand

False positives are less frequent than false negatives, but

It was the only positive in my house over about two weeks

HFMD sux. I had it when our (then) 2yo brought it home

It’s a good question

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