Test Negative For COVID But Still Sick In RivCo? Test Again CDC Says

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — Coronavirus infection rates and hospitalizations remain down in Riverside County, according to the Riverside County Department of Health. If you suspect you've been exposed to COVID-19, and have an at-home test kit, you should use it if you are experiencing symptoms. However, if your result is negative, you may need to test again a day or two later if symptoms persist, according to the CDC.

If your test is negative, and you are still suffering coronavirus symptoms, "the test did not detect the virus, but it doesn’t rule out an infection," according to the CDC website.

A recent report from NBC4LA's Joel Grover showed his child who was suffering coronavirus symptoms but tested negative. Days later, he tested positive. Many parents have dealt with this same experience. Testing again, a day or two later can yield a much different result.

It's called Serial Testing, according to the CDC.

"Some self-tests are designed to be used in a series (also known as serial testing)," the CDC reported on its site. "Consider repeating the test 24 to 48 hours later. Multiple negative tests increase the confidence that you are not infected with the virus that causes COVID-19."

However, a second positive test will prove that COVID-19 is detected and precautions need to be taken.

The CDC states that positive results from self-tests are highly reliable. Negative results from self-tests do not rule out SARS-CoV-2 infection, they said. "A negative self-test result may not be reliable, especially if you have symptoms associated with COVID-19," they advised. In that case, a second test a day or two later may be in order.

Invalid results from self-tests mean the test did not work properly, and a new test is needed to get an accurate result.

In Riverside County, the number of people hospitalized with a coronavirus infection in Riverside County has dropped below 40, while virus-positive patients in intensive care remained below 10, according to the Riverside University Health System.

A comparison of RUHS data over the last seven days showed that COVID- 19 hospitalizations countywide fell from 44 to 34, with eight patients in the ICU as of Friday, compared to seven on April 29.

One month ago, 42 people were hospitalized throughout the county with a COVID infection, five of whom were ICU patients.

Officials said the aggregate number of COVID cases recorded since the pandemic period began in March 2020 is 602,444 — an increase of 1,789 since last Friday.

RUHS said that a total 6,525 deaths from virus-related complications have been recorded in the last 26 months. A week ago, the figure was 6,512. The fatalities are trailing indicators because of delays in processing death certificates and can go back weeks, according to officials.

The number of known active virus cases in the county, based on available data, was 1,590 as of Friday, compared to 1,434 one week ago. The active count is derived by subtracting deaths and recoveries from the current total — 602,444 — according to the county Executive Office.

Verified patient recoveries countywide are now 594,329.